Harry Bruce Retreat Hell Leadership Award

May 14, 2021

On May 14, 2021 the Brazos Valley Marine Corps League participated in the Texas A&M Commissioning Ceremony for the presentation of the Harry Bruce Retreat Hell Leadership Award. The award name was inspired by the Korean War, of which Harry Bruce was a decorated veteran. Faced with tough fighting between the blocking Chinese divisions and the withdrawing Marines at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, Major General Oliver P. Smith, commander of the 1st Marine Division, remarked: "Retreat, hell! We're not retreating, we're just advancing in a different direction."

Twenty-one of the thirty-three Texas A&M graduates at the Naval / Marine Commissioning Ceremony are Marines.

Steve Ament, Commandant of the Brazos Valley Marine Corps League, presented a Mameluke Sword to Eric M. Krieger with Dottie Bruce, the wife of Harry Bruce, after whom the award is named. Eric M. Krieger is among the Texas A&M NROTC's top performers. At the ceremony, Eric was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.