Bridge Ceremony Friday To Memorialize Sgt. Bruce Maynard

One of the Potter County men who lost their lives in the Vietnam War will be memorialized at 1 pm Friday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), when a new bridge in his hometown of Coudersport is named in his honor. Dedication of the Sgt. Bruce C. Maynard Bridge, which crosses the Allegheny River on Seventh Street, will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony. American Legion Post 192 Color Guard and the Potter County Honor Guard will be present.

Sgt. Maynard served with the U.S. Army for four years and had signed up for another six years when he was killed in action on June 6, 1969, at the age of 26. In a small town in the Tay Ninh Province, he rounded the corner of a building, stood in the doorway, looked inside and was shot by an individual there.

A 1965 graduate of Coudersport High School, Maynard was an infantryman with B Co., 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division in South Vietnam.  He was a son of Arthur and Blanche Neefe Maynard. Sgt. Maynard had returned home for Christmas 1968, departing the following month.

His brother Tom, who lives in Coudersport, recalled, “Ever since Bruce was a small boy, he was fascinated by the army and soldiers – anything to do with war.” Tom remembers hearing stories of his brother’s heroism. On one occasion, a soldier from Oklahoma called their mother on Christmas Day and told her that Bruce had saved his life after he was wounded. At right, Blanche Maynard and sons John (left) and Tom are shown next to the medals and awards that were earned by Sgt. Maynard.

A campaign is underway to name two other bridges after two Vietnam War casualties. The House of Representatives has approved a measure to rename the bridge carrying Route 607 over Freeman Run in Austin Borough the “Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge”; and the Rt. 872 bridge over the East Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek in Wharton Township the “PFC Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.”