To say the Hometown Heroes presentation at a recent Park Ridge City Council meeting meant a lot to Bonnie Brinker Thompson would be an understatement.
Brinker Thompson traveled from Ormond Beach, Florida, to accept honors on behalf of her father, Lt. Sidney Brinker, and uncle, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Brinker, both of the U.S. Navy.
“My dad has been written up many times in the history books because he was the commander of a (landing craft tank) that’s been in movies, ‘Victory at Sea,’ and has been in pictures, especially around D-Day,” she said. “His tank landed at the beach, because his was the first one to go in.”
Brinker Thompson’s entire family was born and raised in Park Ridge, she said. Lt. Brinker attended the University of Illinois, and Lt. Cmdr. Brinker graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, she said.
At the end of his military service, Lt. Brinker received a presidential citation from the Secretary of the Navy, Brinker Thompson said.
In the Nov. 24, 1944, edition of the Park Ridge Advocate, Brinker, then of 526 N. Washington St., was recognized for “leading the invasion of famed ‘Omaha Beach’ in Normandy” in France.
“Brinker advanced in point-blank enemy fire in mined waters and was the first to enter the invasion beach, according to the citation,” the Advocate reported.
His brother, Lt. Cmdr. Brinker, was commander of a U.S. submarine reported missing in 1943, the newspaper said. Brinker was a veteran of military invasions in Normandy, Sicily, Italy, and North Africa, it said.
“His ship has never been found,” Brinker Thompson said of her uncle.
Brinker Thompson is a family member of two of 14 Park Ridge residents presented with certificates July 15 as part of the city’s Hometown Heroes program, championed last fall by Ald. Joseph Steinfels, 5th, the American Legion and the Park Ridge Historical Society, among others.
The other 12 included Army Spc. 4 Robert Boicourt, Army PFC Carl Brauweiler, Air Force Capt. John Carlson, Marine Cpl. Lucille “Sis” Coyne, Marine Cpl. James Donahue, Marine Sgt. Richard Kosar, Marine Lance Cpl. Bruce Roth, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Ryles, Army Capt. Brandon Simmons, Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Steinfels, Army Capt. Tracy Stern and Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Frederick Talcott.
Ryles paid tribute to Coyne, whom he said is 100 years old and was unable to attend the event due to health issues, and suggested in the future the event should include the mothers and spouses of all the heroes honored.
“One day we’re going to get the Hometown Heroes right,” he said. “All the mothers and wives of veterans and active duty members are the ones who should be up here. My mother watched my father go off to war twice, she watched her son go off to war twice and her brothers go off to war. Those are the folks who are the Hometown Heroes and should be up here.”
Mayor Marty Maloney said the event was planned to honor the 2023 heroes, whose banners were removed as the city honors a new group of heroes in 2024. The banners were displayed on Northwest Highway between Prospect and Washington avenues from September through January.
“This past fall we rolled out the program for the first time here in town,” Maloney said. “We wanted to have this tonight as we’re kind of taking down the banners from last year, one last time recognizing each of the people that are recognized here on those banners.”
Brinker Thompson said she was very grateful to see her dad and uncle honored and to participate in the ceremony on Monday.
“I want to thank everyone in Park Ridge for honoring the Hometown Heroes with special recognition,” she said. “I’m so glad that I could represent my family here.”
