Photo By Kare Lohse

ROBERT STEWART BRODIE

“WWII Attu Scrapbook, by Betsy Brodie Roberts”

Robert Stewart Brodie (known as “Stewart”) was born 1 December 1917 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of Agnes Morton and George Brodie. By 1925, Stewart had immigrated to the States with his family. He became a US Citizen in 1939. After high school graduation in Detroit, Stewart worked for the Norfolk Southern Railroad as a Freight Agent. After Pearl Harbor, Stewart enlisted in the Navy. His basic training was at Bainbridge, MD. On 29 January 1944, while on weekend leave, Stewart married North Carolina native Helen Hunter, whom he had met in Sunday School at Edenton Street Methodist Church in Raleigh, N. C. After the wedding, Stewart was sent to Attu until the end of the war. In his first letter home he sent a note to Helen in code. The code was to the first letter of each paragraph spelled out where he was. It took Helen a long time to figure out why his paragraphs didn’t make sense. Stewart was a Yeoman. According to Navy buddy Howard Rummell, Stewart was called “Hook” because of the way he threw a curve ball. After the war and a bit more time with the Railroad, he was Called into the Ministry. He went to Louisburg Junior College (NC) and University of Florida at Gainesville and Duke Divinity School. Stewart was ordained an Elder in the Methodist Church in 1957. Stewart served Methodist churches from 1948-until his death on 20 November 1983 six months after heart valve replacement surgery. He left behind his wife Helen of almost 40 years, two sons, a daughter and 4 grandchildren.

1. A postcard from Attu. [Robert Brodie]

2. Brodie on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

Brodie teaching a religious study class on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

3. Brodie teaching a religious study class on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

4. Brodie teaching a religious study class on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

5. Brodie on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

6. Brodie on Attu. Click HERE for reverse side of image showing Inpector’s Stamp. [Robert Brodie]

On Attu by landing craft. [Robert Brodie]

7. On Attu by Japanese landing craft. [Robert Brodie]

8. Robert Brodie and 4-legged friend on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

Robert Brodie and 4-legged friend, Attu. [Robert Brodie]

9. Robert Brodie on Attu, in front of his hut. [Robert Brodie]

Brodie on Attu, in front of Hut. [Robert Brodie]

10. George Brown of West Virginia and Hughes on a Japanese compactor used to make their airstrips. Click HERE for reverse side. [Robert Brodie]

George Brown of WV and Hughes on Japanese Compactor used to make their airstrip. [Robert Brodie]

11. Brodie in front of his hut. [Robert Brodie]

Robert Brodie in front of his hut. [Robert Brodie]

12. Brodie in front of his hut digging out the snow. Click HERE for reverse side showing inspector’s stamp. [Robert Brodie]

Brodie in front of his Hut, digging out the snow. [Robert Brodie]

13. One of Attu’s few “roads.” [Robert Brodie]

14. Nissing and Unk. on Attu. [Robert Brodie]

15. Attu, July 1945. Danny, Brown, Brodie, Parker, and Eaton (in front of Brown). Click HERE for reverse side showing names and stamp. [Robert Brodie]

Attu, July 1945. Danny, Brown, Brodie, Parker, and Eaton (in front of Brown). [Robert Brodie]

16. Howard Miles and George Brown on Attu. Sign reads: "Breakthrough Point. At 0330 hours 29 May 1943 as Company B 32nd Infantry Regiment withdrew to the vicinity of the Battalion kitchens. A force consisting of 1000 Japanese countered the American Forces and broke through at this point. The force of the attack carried to the vicinity of Engineer Hill." [Robert Brodie]