More information:

https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/kathleen-donahue-bruyere-obituary-navy-captain-20200910.html

Capt. Kathleen Donahue Bruyere, USN, who fiercely paved the way for women to serve in Navy jobs aboard combatant ships and aircraft, and later served as a member of MOAA’s board of directors, died Sept. 3.  She was born on February 5, 1944 and died on September 3, 2020.  Bruyere, a former president of the Silver Strand Chapter in California, was 76. Family members said she had been fighting cancer – and maintained her energy and positive nature throughout her fierce battle.  “She was the most caring person that I’ve ever met – just a true unselfishness,” said TJ Bruyere, her stepson. “She was great at taking care of other people and liked to take care of other people.”  For more information:  https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2020-news-articles/navy-trailblazer,-former-moaa-board-member-dies-at-76/.  *The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events. 

Miramar National Cemetery

Rest easy.   Thank you for your service. 

Serving with Capt Bruyere was definitely at RTC Orlando was a definite career boost for me. We created programs for the new integration of male/female recruits that were instrumental instruments for other RTCs to follow. From physical training to side-by-side seamanship proved to be the gateway into the new Navy opportunities. I arrived as a 1st class petty officer, left as a CPO, and made SCPO the first time up as well as getting selected for the Warrant Officer program. Captain's guidance and drive to always do better and achieve everything possible despite the hurdles for yourself as well as your shipmates was her motto at every meeting we had.
hank you for the pleasure of serving and learning.

Ed Thank you for your amazing service,God bless.

Thank you for your service and dedication to our country.

Capt. Bruyere will have space dedicated to her at the Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Medical Center. Bruyere was one of the twelve women named by Time magazine as Time Person of the Year in 1975, representing American women (at the height of the feminist movement). In May 1975, she became the first female officer in the Navy to serve as the flag secretary to an admiral commanding an operational staff. In 1977, Bruyere was one of six officers who sued the United States Secretary of the Navy and the United States Secretary of Defense over their being restricted from serving on combat aircraft and ships. This led to the 1948 Women's Armed Services Integration Act being struck down as unconstitutional.

KATHLEEN M BRUYERE

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