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| Captain Frank Bradley served with the 5th Infantry Division from France, across Germany and into Czechoslovakia. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5601153/frank-lucas-bradley https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805402571520/?lp=true |
Frank Lucas Bradley never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on March 17, 1919 in West Virginia. His parents Orville and Zola were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a salesman and later owned a dry goods store. Frank was an only child. By 1940 Frank had completed two years of high school and was living with his parents. He graduated from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1941.
He enlisted in the army in 1941. He rose to the rank of captain in Company F(?), 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Red Diamond"). The 5th ID arrived in Normandy on July 9, 1944. It participated in the breakout from Normandy and seized Rheims at the end of August. It was part of the assault on Metz in September. In early December, the 5th ID attacked into Germany. Captain Bradley was wounded stopping a counterattack (he was wounded twice during the war), an action that would earn him the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1945 the 5th ID fought all the way across Germany and was in Czechoslovakia by May 1. During his time with the 5th ID, Captain Bradley also earned the Bronze Star twice.
Captain Bradley died of non-battle causes on May 5, 1945, three days before Germany surrendered. Some documents claim he was in Cannes, France. That may be a typo, since his unit was in Czechoslovakia at the time.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His citation reads as follows:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Frank L. Bradley (ASN: 0-423387), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 4 December 1944, in Germany.
During a strong enemy counterattack near Karlsbrunn, Germany, Captain Bradley courageously exposed himself to intense enemy artillery fire and ran approximately 300 yards to contact friendly tank destroyers. Although painfully wounded by shell fragments just as he reached his objective he gallantly refused to be evacuated, led the tank destroyers against the enemy and succeeded in repulsing the counterattack.
Captain Bradley's heroic actions and indomitable fighting spirit are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Thank you Captain Bradley for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Frank.
CORDELIA COOK
Born in Kentucky, on the same day as Frank Bradley, was Cordelia Cook. She received training as a nurse and graduated in 1940. She joined the US Army Nurses Corps and became a first lieutenant and surgical nurse. Assigned to field hospitals in the European Theater, she was often close to the fighting. She was wounded by shrapnel in 1943 when her hospital in Italy was bombed by the Germans. For her service she was awarded the Bronze Star. She was the first woman to earn both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Cordelia Cook continued working as a nurse after the war. She died in 1996.
Last year on this date I profiled another Distinguished Service Cross hero, Joseph Pomber, 2nd Infantry Division. You can read about Joseph here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His grave is at Sunset Memorial Park in Charleston, West Virginia.
CORDELIA COOK
Born in Kentucky, on the same day as Frank Bradley, was Cordelia Cook. She received training as a nurse and graduated in 1940. She joined the US Army Nurses Corps and became a first lieutenant and surgical nurse. Assigned to field hospitals in the European Theater, she was often close to the fighting. She was wounded by shrapnel in 1943 when her hospital in Italy was bombed by the Germans. For her service she was awarded the Bronze Star. She was the first woman to earn both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordelia_E._Cook |
Last year on this date I profiled another Distinguished Service Cross hero, Joseph Pomber, 2nd Infantry Division. You can read about Joseph here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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