Collins “Bruce” J. Orebo
Collins “Bruce”
J. Orebo
Funeral services were held at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, Rayne, Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. for Collins “Bruce” J. Orebo, 79, who died Tuesday, December 8, 2009, in Odenville, Ala.
Interment was in the Our Mother of Mercy Cemetery.
He entered the U.S. Army in January 1948.
He was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey for basic training; on completion of basic, he was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas for advanced military police training.
He was later reassigned with the occupational forces in Tokyo, Japan.
Later, returning to the U.S. in August 1952, from August 1952 through April 1975 he was assigned throughout the world.
He finished high school through United States Armed Forces Institute Madison, Wisconsin, Later, he received a state high school diploma from the state of Louisiana.
Other schools attended were: Boilermaker School, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Projectionist School, Fort Lewis, Washington; Advanced Military Police and Security School, Zoski, Japan; Automotive Maintenance School in Eta Jima, Japan; Senior Non-Commissioned Officers School, Fort Hood, Texas; Combat Intelligence School, Fort Hood, Texas; F.B.I. Course in Mob and Riot Control, Killeen, Texas. He also studied Military justice course B. and Geneva Convention Course of 1949 in Tokyo, Japan.
He graduated from Race Relation School and the National Safety Defensive Driving Course in Sandhofen, Germany. He attended and graduated from Executive Management School, Oberammergau, West Germany.
Among his awards and decorations were W.W. II Medal of Occupation Japan, Korean War, Korean Service Medal, Korean Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Vietnam War, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars, Two Awards of Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Permanent Award of the Expert Rifleman’s Badge, Permanently Awarded the Expert Pistol Badge with Bar, eight awards of the Good Conduct Medal.
He was active in all types of sports in the service, and won a European version of the Chryslers Manufactures Cup for Drag Racing 1973 at Geiblestade, West Germany, by bettering the existing world record of that class of car by four-tenths of a second, also at the same time setting a new track record for full bodied cars.
He was retired from the U.S. Army in April 1975 after 27 years of service as Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Military Police Corps.
Bruce was united in holy matrimony to Victoria Rochon and became a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
He loved good times, laughter, jazz and showed great love for his family.
Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Victoria; daughters, Tonya Edwards, Robin Wilder, and Michanne L. Hill,; sons, Trommie E. Conrad and Ryan Orebo; grandchildren, Khaja Taylor, Blaze Conrad, Chance Allen, Jourdain Edwards, Madison Conrad, Yaunna Taylor, Peyton Edwards, Andrew Hill, Jonathan Hill, and Chloe Hill; great-grandchild, Gabrielle Taylor; brother, Herbert Orebo; sisters, Myrtle Grace, Velma Phillips, Teresa Ferguson, Nell Mays, and Leona Hayes.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva D. Orebo; father, Leonard Orebo, Sr.; two brothers, Horace Orebo and Leonard Orebo, Jr.; three sisters, Eula Dumas, Fancis Hill and Maudry Guillory.
He was born Sunday, May 10, 1931, in Iota, the son of the late Leonard Orebo,Sr. and the late Eva Jordan.
Friends were received 8:30 a.m. until services, Saturday, December 12, 2009, at Gossen Funeral Home, Inc., Rayne.
Friends may view the obituary and guestbook online at www.gossenfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements were entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne.