Memorial Day 2023

Bruce Churan grew up on Wagner Street in Port Neches, Texas. He was one of six children of Leo and Esther Churan.  Pictured, (L to R) Marc, Jennifer, Bruce, Brian, Charles, and Margaret. Hear hero Bruce Churan's story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce was the second of six children in the Churan family. Hear about his upbringing on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

This is a picture of Bruce (left) and his brother Charles taken in their back yard on Wagner Street. Hear Charles talk about his brother Bruce on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Podcast host Buck Ford grew up across the street from the Churan family on Wagner Street in Port Neches. He was childhood friends with Bruce's brother Brian, through whom he became acquainted with Bruce. Hear Buck's recollections of Bruce Churan on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (pictured Buck Ford and Brian Churan)

Bruce hung out with friends during his high school years. Pictured here are (L to R) Gay Whitehead, Jerry Leger, Hardy Willis, Bruce, and Pat (last name unknown). Hear about Bruce Churan's high school years on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce was a 1966 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School. Hear Bruce's story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce joined the Army in June of 1966 after graduation from high school. He was 17 years old. In July of 1967, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He began his tour of duty in Vietnam as a 1st Lieutenant in January of 1969. Hear about Bruce's Army experiences on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce was a helicopter pilot in the 1st Calvary Division of the Army. He flew a Light Observation Helicopter, which was one of the most dangerous jobs in the war. Hear about Bruce's Vietnam experience on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Jeff Coburn, pictured above, flew with Bruce on scouting missions in Vietnam. Hear Jeff Coburn tell about his experiences flying with Bruce Churan on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

The picture above shows Lt. Bruce Churan piloting a helicopter, and podcast guest Jeff Coburn holding a red smoke grenade. Hear Jeff Coburn talk about these Army airmen's heroic exploits on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce's father Leo was a professional photographer, and Bruce loved photography also.  He was a photographer for PN-G's jounalism program for three years. Here is a picture of him with his camera in Vietnam. Hear about Bruce's other interests on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Lt. Churan had a reputation as a daring and skilled helicopter pilot. Hear about his pilot skills from Jeff Coburn, who served with him, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

(Pictured, L to R:  Harris, unknown, Bruce Churan, Bosch)

Lt. Churan was killed in action on August 30, 1969, during a nighttime mortar attack on his Army base located in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam. He is laid to rest at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves, Texas. Hear this Southeast Texas hero's story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

The Churan family attended a memorial honors ceremony for Bruce at Butler-Redd American Legion Hall in Nederland a few months after his death. (Pictured L to R) Marc, grandmother Catherine King Ader, Charles, Captain Daniel Cupit, Esther Churan, Brian, Leo Churan, Jennifer, and Margaret. Hear  Bruce Churan's story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce Churan's name is one of 58,318 names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. We honor all the Southeast Texas heroes forever inscribed on this Wall, on this special edition of Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Bruce's sister Margaret Churan Jones takes a rubbing of her brother's name at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Her parents Leo and Esther Churan look on. Hear about Southeast Texas hero Bruce Churan on Down Trails of Victory podcast!