Sure enough - one connector no longer connected to the master cylinder.  How do those melt???  There should be very little to no heat generated from that switch and I cant see any other source of heat in the area.  Here is the photo:
https://skydrive.live.com/?sc=photos&cid=7bf533a9aab41079#cid=7BF533A9AAB41079&id=7BF533A9AAB41079%21530&sc=photos
Thanks again to the list....its awsome to post something and get 3 or 4 replies within the afternoon.
Brett

From: rueffy@hotmail.com
To: dbeierl@attglobal.net
CC: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: RE: What's this broken connector?
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:58:25 +0000

Hmmm.  Im at work now, but I cant wait to get home and have a look.  If the switch is not even in the master cylinder how come I dont leak brake fluid everywhere?  PO must have plugged it off with something.....i'll get in there and have a look.

> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:03:10 -0400
> To: rueffy@HOTMAIL.COM
> From: dbeierl@attglobal.net
> Subject: Re: What's this broken connector?
> CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> At 02:23 PM 4/17/2012, brett rueff wrote:
> >and "cold" side of the brake switch.  One set of hot/cold wires run 
> >to the main fuse panel area.  The other set run to a connector that 
> >appears to be broken and certainly doesn't connect to 
> >anything.  Anyone know what it might be?  Here
> 
> You've got two brake light switches, one for each of the independent 
> brake hydraulic circuits.  Looks to me like the remains of the second 
> switch.  Red/black and Red/yellow is the correct color code.
> 
> Yours,
> David 
>