Born: April 10, 1925
Died: July 22, 2007
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian (wounded), Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Sergeant
Decorations:
Purple Heart with Gold Star
John Braddock was one of the original members of Charlie Company. He began his career as a BAR gunner in one of the rifle platoons. He fought in the battle of Namur - "where he learned war is hell" - and was made a fire team leader in the spring of 1944. Braddock was promoted to corporal on July 18, 1944, after performing well on Saipan, and likely led a squad on Tinian. He was wounded on July 24, right after landing, but was patched up and returned to the lines to complete the campaign.
Photo from the World War II Memorial Registry.
Braddock was promoted to sergeant in the fall of 1944, and landed on Iwo Jima the following February. He was wounded and evacuated on February 22, 1945, and was hospitalized on Saipan. As a twice wounded veteran of four campaigns, Braddock was not returned to combat status; instead he was posted to a Naval Ammunition Depot in his home state of New Jersey.
Braddock was discharged in November, 1945. He took a job in construction, and stayed in the business for the next forty years, raising a family with his wife Marie.
John Braddock died in Sarasota, Florida in 2007.