Palestine High School Alumni Association

Forrest Bradberry 1942

10 / 21 / 1921  –  12 / 04 / 2010

Forrest (Brad) E. Bradberry Sr. was born October 21, 1921, in Palestine, Texas to Jordon Dodd and Lela Postell Daniels Bradberry. He crossed over the river on December 4, 2010, age 89. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evenell Curd Bradberry; daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Bradberry Coleman; his mother and father; and brothers, J.W., Emmett, and Howard; and sister, Annie Bradberry Owens.

He is survived by sons Forrest (Biff) Bradberry Jr. and wife Linda of Palestine and Robert (Bob) Bradberry and wife Cindy of Bullard; as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and countless friends.

He attended the original Alamo School on West Reagan long ago torn down. While attending Palestine High School he was active in sports. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force. He served in the China, Burma, India Theater of operation and on Tinian in the Mariana Islands assigned to the 793rd Bombing Squadron, 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), 58th Bomb Wing (VH), 20th Air Force. The 468th was known as the “Billy Mitchell Group” after the famous Air Force general and was among the first units to deploy overseas with the B-29 Superfortress. The 468th remained in India to January 1945 when they transferred to Tinian and they would remain there until wars’ end participating in the air war against the main islands of Japan taking part in mining operations, incendiary raids and high-altitude missions against strategic objectives in Japan.

He was discharged October 12, 1945. He was overseas 1 year, 7 months and 7 days and participated in the following campaigns: Air Offensive Japan, China Campaign, Eastern Mandates Campaign, Central Burma Campaign, India – Burma Campaign and Air Combat Palembang Sumatra.

He came back as a Sergeant earning the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Battle Star (which notes a total of 6 battle stars), Distinguished Unit Badge (3 oak leave clusters noting 3 awards), the Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal, as well as the World War II Victory Medal.

He was active in the community and served as a Master Sgt in the Army National Guard during the early ‘50s. He was active in scouting. He opened Brad’s Grocery after the war, worked on the railroad and in the oil fields. He worked at L&L Shoe Store and owned the old Elk Theatre in Elkhart for a while. He later became the Conoco Distributor and local dealer for the Houston Post and then the Houston Chronicle. He owned Cooper Transfer and Storage Moving Company and later worked for TDCJ retiring in 1985.

Forrest was a member of the First Christian Church, a life member of the VFW, a member of the Palestine Wood Carvers and a charter member of the John H. Reagan Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. He loved spending time with his family and friends, working in the yard, fishing, arrow head hunting and always had time to talk and visit with the many friends that would drop by to see him. His humor, kind nature, helping hands and good works will always be remembered by his family, friends and anyone that had a chance to meet and know him.

Viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2010, at Herrington/Land of Memory Chapel with interment with military honors to follow at the City Cemetery in Palestine. Pallbearers will be Jason Bradberry, Shane Gray, Dustin Gray, Keith Gray, Chris Mueller, Brandon Byerly, Mike Paul and Steve Torma. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the 468th Bomb Group.

Visitation with family, relatives and friends at the Bradberry home, 407 East Kolstad, Palestine will follow the service and interment. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Save the Battle Ship Texas Campaign or a worthy charity or cause of the donor’s choice.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 12-07-2010