Edward H. Bristow

Second Lieutenant,
U.S. Army
359th Infantry
90th Division
Company G

Born: September 1917
Died: June 14, 1944



Map Location for
Bristow Lane,
Tustin, CA - Map

United States Army 359th Infantry 90th Division Company G
Born September 1917 Stroud, Oklahoma
Killed in Action 14 June 1944 Normandy, France

Edward R. Bristow was born in September 1917, the oldest of five sons to Thomas Pleasant Bristow and Marie Drexel Green Bristow. The family moved to Tustin when Edward and his brother Gilbert were small children. Brothers Harold, Willard and Dean were all born when they arrived in Orange County. Mr. Bristow was a foreman at the Francis Citrus Company for more than 30 years. The family was very involved with the Tustin Advent Church.

Edward Bristow was quite the star in Tustin High’s Class of 1936. He was President of the Letterman’s Club, Student Body Treasurer, Treasurer of the Senior Class, ran track, was one of the leagues best baseball pitchers and caught the game winning pass in the Thanksgiving Day football game against Escondido. His peers wrote in his senior yearbook that “he was a jolly good fellow”.

After graduating from Tustin High, Edward was a bookkeeper while attending college. He enlisted into the Army on 31 October 1942 and completed his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia before being sent overseas on March 23, 1944. As a member of the 359th Infantry, 90th Division, he participated in the invasion of France and six days after D-Day was wounded and died the same day. He was 27 years old.

The Tustin News wrote an article on his extraordinary family in 1954, saying the most important people in the lives of Thomas and Marie Bristol were their sons. Marie was President of the Gold Star Mothers, and son Harold and his wife were both Air Force Officers. The youngest son Dean would enter the Air Force Academy after Tustin High, but sadly Marie would never see him graduate. She was killed in a traffic accident with her sister-in-law in September 1958. Lt Edward Bristow, his mother and father are buried at Fairhaven Cemetery in Santa Ana.

Provided By: Tustin Community Foundation
Tustin Patriots Pioneers - Chairperson Donna Perry 714 838-1806 e-mail
Tustin, CA Military Heroes