Brousseau Twins Are Missing
Two Waterloo twin brothers – Herbert and George Brousseau, 18, navy seamen first class aboard the same ship – Saturday were reported missing in action in the Pacific, according to word received by their mother, Mrs. H. M. Brousseau, 712 Beech street.
The youths left their classes at St. Mary’s high school when they were 17 years old to enlist in the navy on Feb. 2, 1942. They would be 19 years old on Dec. 6.
They have two other brothers in the service. James, 22, seaman first class on a destroyer, and Robert, 20, also a seaman first class, stationed on the east coast after being at sea. The twins have eight brothers in a family of 12 children.
Their sister, Jean Brousseau Weidman was formerly in the WACS.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 26, 1944, Section 2, Page 13
One of Two Missing Twins Dead
Herbert D. Brousseau, 18, Waterloo, who with his twin brother, George, was reported missing in action in the Philippines Oct. 25 while they were serving on the same ship, has now been listed as killed on that date, according to a navy department telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Brousseau, 712 Beech street.
No further word has been received concerning George.
The twins, who both held the rating of seaman first class, enlisted in the navy in February, 1943, while students at St. Mary’s high school, and took their boot training at Farragut, Idaho. They later were stationed on Treasure island, Cal., for a few months before being assigned to the same ship in the Pacific.
Born Dec. 6, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, Ia., son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Brousseau, he moved to Waterloo with his parents in 1930. He was a member of St. May’s Catholic church.
Surviving, besides his missing twin brother and parents, are three brothers, James, seaman first class, serving in the Pacific; Robert, seaman first class, at Norfolk, Va.; and William, at home; also seven sisters, Mrs. S. J. LaRocco, Joan, Bonnie, Charlotte, Violet, Carol and Linda, all at home.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, January 23, 1945, Page 1
Fourth Marriage of Brousseau On Rocks
The fourth marriage of Herbert M. Brousseau, 52, ended in divorce court Friday when his wife, Marian, J., 41, of 712 Beech street, was granted a decree after their 24 years of married life. The parents of 12 children, one of whom was killed in action Oct. 25, 1944, in the Philippines, and his twin brother reported missing, the Brousseaus also have three other children in the navy.
By stipulation, custody of nine minor children, ranging in age from 1 to 18 years, was awarded the plaintiff, together with their care, maintenance and support. Mrs. Brousseau was awarded the household furniture and ordered to pay court costs and attorney fees.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, February 09, 1945, Page 10
Second Twin Declared Dead by Navy
George Brousseau of Waterloo, Thursday had been declared dead after being reported missing in action Oct. 25, 1944 while on the Hoel, a destroyer on which his twin brother, Herbert, also lost his life.
Word was received by his mother, Mrs.Marian Brousseau, 807 Beech street.
The twins, who both held the rating of seaman first class, entered service in February, 1943, took their boot training at Farragut, Idaho. They were assigned to the Hoel a few months later and were in the Philippine islands when a Jap cruiser reportedly sank their ship.
Born Dec. 6, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, Ia., son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Brousseau, he moved to Waterloo with his parents, in 1930. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church.
Also surviving are his father who resides at 508 Saxon street, seven sisters, Mrs. S. J. LaRocco, New York City; Joan, Bonnie, Charlotte, Violet, Carol and Linda, all at home; and three brothers, James, Robert and William at home, James and Robert Brousseau were both recently discharged after four years service in the navy.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, January 03, 1946, Page 7
Brousseau Services At St. Mary’s Friday
A solemn requiem mass as a memorial to George Brousseau, Waterloo sailor killed in action, will be sung Friday at 8:15 a. m. at St. Mary’s Catholic church by the Rev. Fr. Raphael Grahl.
Brousseau, who with his twin brother, Herbert, served aboard the destroyer Hoel [USS Hoel (DD-533)], was declared dead by the navy after he had been missing for 14, months following the sinking of the destroyer in the Philippines by a Japanese cruiser.
The twins were both seaman first class. They were the sons of Mrs. Marian Brousseau, 417 Beech street.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, January 26, 1946, Page 8
NOTE: During the Battle off Samar on dawn of October 25, 1944, the USS Hovel (DD-533) and her accompanying ships came under intense fire. Already severely damaged and surrounded by the enemy, the Hovel drew enemy fire upon herself and away from other American carriers. Crippled with 40 hits, a 8-inch enemy shell disabled her last working engine and her No. 1 magazine was ablaze. Under orders to abandon ship, her crew came under enemy fire that ceased only when the Hovel rolled over and sank into the sea. Of her officers and crew of 253 men, only 86 survived.
Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hoel_(DD-533)
Petty Officer Herbert D. Brousseau died Oct. 25, 1944 (At Sea) and is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.
Source: ancestry.com
