Erik Brun and Heidi Brodmarkle-Brun at home in Morro Bay. Photo submitted
Erik Brun is a local historian and veteran who grew up on the Central Coast. His wife, Heidi Brodmarkle-Brun, is a safety consultant and owner of the recently launched 805 Fearless, a self-defense training facility in Morro Bay. Heidi and Erik have a combined 60 years of United States Army service, both retiring as lieutenant colonels. Erik also believes it is his honor to have served in the California, Arizona and District of Columbia National Guards. Together they share their four, now, adult children – two sets of siblings adopted from Ukraine.
Erik holds an M.A. in public history from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, M.B.A. from the University of LaVerne, and B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. He has taken additional graduate history courses at Cal Poly, where he began to focus on local Black military stories. His research has focused on the history of American Army units composed of “others” and aliens, collected by race, ethnicity or nationality. Erik is a published author, co-editing “The Viking Battalion: Norwegian American Ski Troops in World War II.”
Erik’s passion for the past several months has been to coalesce several organizations to help produce two companion events celebrating American Veterans – one November 7 and the other November 16 – before and after our traditional remembrances during Veteran’s Day activities on November 11.
“This is our time to celebrate and recognize those men and women who served to keep our country sovereign and safe,” Erik said. November 11 is also known as Remembrance Day and Erik wants our residents and visitors to remember Morro Bay’s population grew during World War II when it became a military training base. This year is the 85thAnniversary of the dedication of the Aeronautics Training Base in Morro Bay, which was held three weeks before Pearl Harbor.
The Morro Bay Navy Base 85th Anniversary USO Sock Hop takes place Saturday afternoon, November 7, from 1-4 p.m. at the Morro Bay Veterans Hall, Erik has invited the Swing Dance Reenactors from the Cal Poly Swing Club to dance to raucous music performed by Riptide Big Band. Admission is free.
“It was a tenuous time for the thousands of young men and women who spent time here,” he said. “WWII brought young people from all over the United States to train here in Morro Bay not knowing if they would ever go home again; not knowing if their country, their world, would ever feel safe again.”
He hopes those who attend will get into the spirit of the dance and join the swing dancers during the afternoon. “At the same time, I want all to envision those past days right here in Morro Bay when these men and women would come out for a night to swing one more time before they were deployed oversees.”
Many residents might not be aware of Morro Bay’s past affiliation with Morro Bay’s onsite military involvement. They can learn more or refresh their knowledge during the afternoon. There will be local historical displays, WWII vehicles, a silent auction to support future events produced by Erik’s coalesced community groups, and refreshments – all activities offered by 18 area nonprofits, including the Red Cross, SLO, South County and Morro Bay Historical Societies, Morro Bay Maritime Museum, Kiwanis, Lions, Morro Bay Police and Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum and more. The presenting sponsor is MOAA California Central Coast Chapter and Rising Phoenix Community Foundation.
Eric is always surprised when he encounters residents who are not aware that Morro Bay was once a training base during WWII. “They lived, trained and recreated in numerous Quonset Huts. There are still four or five left at various locations around town,” Erik said.
One is across the street from the Morro Bay Yacht Club. Another is the repurposed and restored 10-room boutique hotel, The Q Inn, owned and operated by Joan, John and son Orion Solu. (Note: The Q Inn story is also featured in this EBN issue, and the Solus are sponsors for Erik’s remembrance events. They will also host a “thank you” social for members of the nonprofits who have helped Erik produce these two events.
On Monday, November 16 Erik invites all out to flashback to WWII by viewing the hilarious Hollywood comedy “1941” at the Bay Theater. Supporting nonprofit groups have tickets available and members will be at The Bay to enjoy the film. See a nonprofit you’d like to donate to on Erik’s list of participants? Purchase from it and ticket sales proceeds go directly to them.
A VIP Wine and Cheese from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. will kick off the evening. The Hollywood guest speaker is Gerry Sackman, who is better known for his work on films such as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987), “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995) and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993). Why Gerry Sackman? Randomly, Sackman happened to be visiting the Morro Bay Maritime Museum while MBMM’s founding board member president, Larry Newland, and Erik were discussing the upcoming movie presentation of “1941.” Sackman spoke up, “I worked on that film.” And the invitation was extended.
Erik shared a few comments about the movie. “It’s a meatball comedy with the kind of humor that also makes one think about how insane the times had to have been for those deployed and even those who served on the homefront.” He suggests we ignore the antics of the German officer, a staple in Hollywood produced WWII films, but appreciate the Japanese officer for playing his part straight. “Remember Spielberg was born in 1946, and the writers of ‘1941’ were born in 1956. Their knowledge of the angst in 1941 came from their parents who lived through the aftermath once Pearl Harbor was bombed. Think about how we felt after 9/11. We were scared, which might allow us to recall how these comedic 1941-era American citizens might have felt.”
Erik also mentioned there were nine Japanese submarines off our coast and Goleta was actually shelled. The Montebello oil tanker was downed off the coast of Cambria and Los Angeles shot off ammo one night during the Great LA Air Raid in February 1942.”
Tickets are $15 each for general admission. A $25 reservation includes the VIP meet and greet with Gerry Sackman. And as always if there are seats still available tickets they will be sold that evening at the door and the nonprofit host will still receive the donations, a service Cameron Wilson’s Bay Theater does for the nonprofits he has contracted with for these many Monday night film presentations.
Erik Brun invites all who “remembers when” because they were there to serve or those who might have heard WWII stories from their parents and want to learn more about Morro Bay’s historic WWII past. And may there be more Erik Brun produced Morro Bay’s Veterans Remembrances beyond 2026!
