OBIT: Ellwood BRANT, Pvt., 1943, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ ELLWOOD BRANT Pvt. Ellwood Brant Killed in Action On Road to Rome First Meyersdale Boy To Make the Supreme Sacrifice in Battle in World War II Official word was received in Meyersdale on Tuesday that Pvt. Ellwood Brant was killed in action Nov. 5, in Italy. The communication from the War Department was sent here to Ellwood's brother, Theodore Brant, who is also in the Army, at present stationed in England, and was received by the latter's wife, Virginia Bruno Brant. The message brought sadness also to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Spence in whose home the young man lived before he entered the service and who loved him like a son. The mother of the Brant boys, Mrs. Emil Grenke, lives in Akron, O., and has been notified of the death of her son. Ellwood Brant entered the Army last spring, leaving the home of Mr. and Mrs. Spence on March 5. Exactly 8 months after his induction, Nov. 5, he met his death in battle on the road to Rome. He spent 5 1/2 months in training here in the United States before being shipped to North Africa. From there he went to Sicily and then on into Italy. Pvt. Ellwood Brant is the first resident of Meyersdale Borough officially reported "killed in action," in World War II. He was 20 years old and a graduate of Meyersdale High School and was a very bright, popular and attractive youth. Ellwood was about the same age as William B. Dia, who was last week reported wounded in action in Italy. These boys were schoolmates and chums and were inducted into the army together and remained in the service together until they became separated in Italy before they went into battle - both to become casualties soon after landing in Italy - Dia being wounded in action late in October and Brant killed early in November. Meyersdale Republican, November 25, 1943