Helmut Braunsteiner's Obituary
Helmut Â"BrownieÂ" BraunsteinerLongtime veteransÂ' volunteer and diabetic educator, Helmut Â"BrownieÂ" Braunsteiner, passed away quietly on Sunday, December 29, 2002 with his family in attendance. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Beryl Braunsteiner; two daughters, Donna Evans of San Diego, Evelin Kleyda of Germany; two sons, Mark Des Voigne of Oak Harbor, Ronald P. Braunsteiner of Vienna, Austria; 5 grandchildren, Eric & Rechelle Evans; Matt Des Voigne; & Daniel and Julia Braunsteiner.Brownie was born in Vienna, Austria on March 20, 1927 and later fled with his parents and brother when Hitler occupied his homeland. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944 and retired as First Sergeant in 1969. He served in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Panama, Berlin, Korea and Vietnam. Brownie served in such various specialties as Infantry Operations Intelligence NCO, Interpreter-Translator (German), Intelligence Specialist and Interrogator, and First Sergeant in Infantry Company (Combat). He took part in the interrogation of alleged war criminals at Camp Sibert, at Oberursel, Germany in preparation for the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial 1945-1946. He reviewed and translated Nazi and SS documents captured by U.S. Forces at Offenbach, Germany and prepared documents for the trial. At the trial, he participated as an Interpreter-Translator. He also helped operate the largest Displaced Persons Camp in Vienna.Later Brownie was assigned to the General Staff of General Mark Wayne Clark, Commander of U.S. Forces in Austria and later General Geoffrey Keyes who replaced him. He acted as an interpreter/translator for President John F. Kennedy and his party on his visit to Berlin, Germany and Attorney General Robert Kennedy and his family on a visit to Berlin.During his time in the Military, Brownie was awarded: Bronze Star, Purple Heart (2), Combat Infantry Badge (2nd Award), 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 2 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals (Korea and Berlin), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, European Theater (2 battle stars), Southeast Asian Theater (2 battle stars), American Defense Service Medal, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal (6 loops), and 2 Department of the Army Commendation Medals.Brownie settled in the Tacoma area after retiring from 27 years of service. He then began thirty years of service to the community with an emphasis on diabetic detection and education, veteransÂ' affairs and organizations, and being an active member of the Tacoma Southeast Lions Club. He also helped his son, Ronald, organize a Lions club in Austria and was a member there too. Donations to one of BrownieÂ's favorite charities would be appreciated. Diabetes Association of Pierce County, P.O. Box 110427, Tacoma, WA 98411-0427; The Brownie Braunsteiner Veterans Scholarship Fund, c/o Bates Technical College Foundation, 1101 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma 98405 or the Lions Sight Foundation c/o Tacoma Southeast Lions Club, c/o P.Z.C. Frank Pearce, 2801 20th St. SE, Puyallup, 98374.Viewing is Saturday, January 4th from 12:00 Noon to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Mountain View Funeral Home. Services will be held 10:00am Monday, January 6, 2003 at Mountain View Celebration of Life Center Â- Aspen Chapel.
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