Corporal Gerald Gregory Bradley

         

    He may be gone, but he is not forgotten – On this day, January 15, 1969, Corporal Gerald Gregory Bradley, USMC, age 21, a Marine Corps Rifleman (0311) was killed in action while serving with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division (2/1) in the Village of Cam Sa, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star (by order of the President of the United States), Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation. He was born on March 23, 1947 and died on January 15, 1969 at the age of 21 years and 10 months. At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, George and Lulu (Cushing) Bradley, his sister Mary Lou, and his two brothers William and George Bradley. Corporal Bradley was born in Boston and moved to Braintree at a young age. He lived at 48 Burton Road, which was part of Granite Park, a new development for WWII veterans that was located near Braintree Five Corners on the South Shore Plaza side. Being the paperboy, he was well known in the neighborhood. In his youth he would venture to one of two nearby excavated ponds during the winter months to learn to skate and play hockey with the kids in the neighborhood. He played hockey in his sophomore year through his senior year, and in his last year he became a co-captain of the team. This would be Gerry’s first experience in a leadership role. For those who knew Gerry, he was a tall, quiet, unassuming and a passive sort of guy. That was of course, until he got behind his 1967 Chevelle SS 396 muscle car. I bet he went through a few sets of tires back in the day.

    After graduating from BHS in 1966, Gerry held jobs with the Blue Hills Cemetery and Ridge Arena Association. After a period of time, Gerry was looking for a challenge and he joined the United States Marines Corps to begin serving his country. He made the traditional trek to catch the train at South Station in Boston, and rode the rails down to Beaufort South Carolina. From there he took a bus to Parris Island, and on the night of October 2, 1967, he was greeted by his drill instructor. Upon successful completion of Boot Camp, he then took a five-hour bus ride to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for two months of Advanced Infantry Training. Entrenched into the Marine warrior culture is “every Marine is a Rifleman,” and it was at Camp Geiger that he learned and developed his warfighting skills. After a short leave, Gerry then went onto Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Here he would learn the combat skills of an 0311-grunt rifleman, as well as leadership skills as he advanced through the ranks. He traveled to Camp Pendleton to further develop his skills as a squad leader; Camp Pendleton was the home of the First Marine Division where additional combat training would be provided for all expeditionary forces, a precursor for Vietnam.

    Gerry then flew to Anchorage, Alaska, and then to Phu Bai Combat Airbase just south of Hue City, Vietnam, where a month earlier, the Battle of Hue had only just ended. He was accompanied by his good friend Tom Donnellan, who had been with him since he graduated from Parris Island. It was Easter Sunday, April 14, 1968 and I am sure the first thing he noticed after opening the aircraft’s door was the heat and stench, which he would eventually come to know well.

    He was then stationed in Khe Sanh, which would be his rear base. Gerry was what you would call a “Bush Marine”: he spent his time being choppered out on patrols all over Northern I Corps. On one occasion he even ventured to the DMZ, a hellhole that separated North and South Vietnam. He would participate in what was called “cordon and search” activities, where they would define an area outside the base perimeter and search for the enemy. On the night of January 13th, Echo Company was on a cordon and search patrol outside of Cam Sa Village when they engaged the enemy with light small weapons fire. Late that night and early the next morning, the enemy disengaged and fled north of the cordon area. There were two villages in the area called Cam Sa 1 and Cam Sa 2, both fishing villages which the Marines knew well. Going into this area, they expected contact. On January 15, 1969 at 0300, both Echo Company and Hotel Company, along with a platoon of Vietnamese Popular Force, headed out on a cordon and search mission of Cam Sa 1 Village. As the units began their sweep they were hit with a heavy volume of enemy small arms fire, grenades and satchel charges from the enemy fortified positions. The advancing friendly units used M-79 Thumpers, supporting 81mm mortars and artillery to destroy bunkers and break thru the enemy defenses. There was a total of 91 Bunkers that were destroyed with 21 enemy soldiers killed. Unfortunately, Corporal Bradley and three of his platoon members were killed in action. Gerry had been in Vietnam for 286 days. Two of those Marines killed with Gerry were his friends that he spent time with drinking beers. The three Marines KIA with Gerry were Lance Corporal Peter Carroll, PFC James Carey and PFC Jerry Pearce. Their names now reside together on Panel W34 of the Vietnam War Memorial.

    For his gallantry, Corporal Gerald Bradley was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest award. Here is an account of his actions as mentioned in the citation.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Gerald G. Bradley (MCSN: 2394208), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 15 January 1969, Company E was participating in a cordon placed around the village of Cam Sa (1) in Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a platoon-sized enemy force occupying defensive positions in the village. After the fire fight had raged for several hours, an assault was ordered, and Corporal Bradley boldly led two squads of Marines forward in an aggressive attack. Completely disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly maneuvered about the battlefield encouraging his men and directing their fire against the hostile positions. Ignoring the rounds impacting nearby, he remained exposed to the enemy fire and continued to lead his men in the assault until he was mortally wounded. By his courage, unwavering fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty, Corporal Bradley inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Corporal Bradley is buried at the Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree, Ma. and is remembered on the Vietnam Wall Memorial, Panel W34, Line 4

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” –Unknown

    .Further note – Corporal Bradley and other Braintree residents who have died in Vietnam, and those who later died from wounds or Agent Orange related illnesses, or served in Vietnam and have passed, are honored and remembered at the Braintree Vietnam Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament. This event has been held annually for the past 32 years. The contributions collected are then given in the form of scholarships to high school students in their memory. Contributions and sponsorships  can be sent at any time to the Vietnam Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Peter Schiavone, 1752 Washington Street, Braintree, Ma. 02184. The next tournament will be held on August 26, 2024 at the Braintree Municipal Golf Course..  Following the tournament, all are invited to the Braintree Sons of Italy, King Hill Road in Braintree, Ma. for a luncheon.

Above photo of Gerry training in Camp Pendleton, Ca. in March 1968. (Photo courtesy of Tom Donnellan)

    The above granite monument was spearheaded by one of Gerry’s neighbors, Charles A. MacGillivary on 6 acres of land donated by Thomas J. Flatley. Charles’ daughter Joan provided the following comments to me - “where this monument is located represents so much of Gerry’s short life… his neighborhood, his love for hockey and his heroic service to his country”. This monument is located very near where Gerry would spend his time playing hockey.

(Photo courtesy of Joan MacGillivary Ward.)