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name
BRADFIELD, Earl - Date of
birth
26 July 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Essex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32921686 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
272nd Infantry Regiment,
69th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Hubenrode, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 21 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George A. Bradfield (father)
Mabel M. Bradfield (mother)
Mabel Bradfield (sister)
Georgette Bradfield (sister)
Donald Bradfield (brother)
Evelyn Bradfield (sister)
More information
S/Sgt Earl Bradfield attended East Side High School, where he played trumpet in the orchestra. He belonged to the Ironbound Bugle Corps as a boy and was employed by Fine Pigments, Inc.He enlisted in Newark, New Jersey on 13 May 1943.
He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously. The citation reads: "For gallantry in action against the enemy, on 7th April 1945, in Germany. When an assault platoon of Company "E", was met by heavy machine gun and sniper fire while crossing open terrain, Staff Sergeant Bradfield was seriously wounded but continued to control his men who were pinned down. By crawling among them and rallying them forward he marked himself as a leader and the enemy concentrated its fire against him. Wounding him again, this time fatally. Throughout the action, Staff Sgt Bradfield displayed outstanding qualities of courage, leadership, and gallantry, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.archives.gov, www.69th-infantry-division.com, Newark Evening News - 21 May 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred, Carol Baldessari (niece)