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William M. Braddock Jr., brother of Dorothy Goudeau of Bastrop, recently traveled to the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemoration, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Braddock was born in Mer Rouge, eldest son of Clara and Jack Braddock.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1940 and was on duty on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. He was one of six Pearl Harbor survivors who traveled to Pearl Harbor in December for the commemoration. Their journey was made possible through the Pearl Harbor Initiative, supported by the citizens of Pensacola, Fla.
Following his service at Pearl Harbor, Braddock went on to serve with 5th Marine Division, 28th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion B Company as a machine gunner. He was in the first wave of the invasion on Iwo Jima at the base of Mt. Suribachi. Braddock is retired from the Marine Corps after 27 years as Sgt. Major, and lives in Pensacola.
Pictured above is William M. Braddock Jr. standing on the steps of the Marine Barracks where he stood 70 years ago on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, as he observed a Japanese plane dropping a torpedo that struck the USS Oklahoma. Pictured with him is Lt. Col. Bill Phillips (USAF), organizer of the Pearl Harbor Initiative Campaign that sponsored the Honor Flight of six Pearl Harbor survivors.
Read their stories at www.pearlharborhonorflight.com.
William M. Braddock Jr., brother of Dorothy Goudeau of Bastrop, recently traveled to the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemoration, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Braddock was born in Mer Rouge, eldest son of Clara and Jack Braddock.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1940 and was on duty on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. He was one of six Pearl Harbor survivors who traveled to Pearl Harbor in December for the commemoration. Their journey was made possible through the Pearl Harbor Initiative, supported by the citizens of Pensacola, Fla.
Following his service at Pearl Harbor, Braddock went on to serve with 5th Marine Division, 28th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion B Company as a machine gunner. He was in the first wave of the invasion on Iwo Jima at the base of Mt. Suribachi. Braddock is retired from the Marine Corps after 27 years as Sgt. Major, and lives in Pensacola.
Pictured above is William M. Braddock Jr. standing on the steps of the Marine Barracks where he stood 70 years ago on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, as he observed a Japanese plane dropping a torpedo that struck the USS Oklahoma. Pictured with him is Lt. Col. Bill Phillips (USAF), organizer of the Pearl Harbor Initiative Campaign that sponsored the Honor Flight of six Pearl Harbor survivors.
Read their stories at www.pearlharborhonorflight.com.
