Happy 94th Birthday, Sgt. Maj. Braddock
Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima Survivor, Sgt. Maj. William (Bill) Braddock, USMC (RET.) celebrates 94th birthday with family and friends. In true Louisiana fashion, his son Dale had the fish, shrimp, fries and hush puppies piled high in addition to a giant pot of gumbo simmering on a back burner.
Some members of the Pearl Harbor Initiative, which was responsible for co-ordinating the 2011 honor flight for six Pearl Harbor Survivors to return to Pearl in celebration of the 70th commemoration of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, joined Bill’s children and grand children as they honored their “hero Dad.” Honor flight trip co-organizer, Lt Col Bill Phillips and his wife, Kathy, Rick Carraway, wife, Theresa and daughter, Samantha, and photographer/authors Robert and Billie Nicholson listened with smiles as Bill’s daughter, Carole, shared stories about how their dad had taught his kids how to swim. They learned so well, all five served as life guards at Corey Station. Three of his children still live nearby and the others are just a phone call away.
Sgt. Maj. Braddock shared details of his preparations for this year’s hunting season. His hunting club has already been out cleaning and repairing tree stands and setting up feeding stations.
Happy 94th Birthday to you!
When it was time for cake, Sgt. Maj. puffed up his chest and blew out the candles, including those hard to extinguish sparklers.
What’s next for the Pearl Harbor Survivors? Col. Phillips revealed some of the plans for a Dec. 7th trip to the World War II Museum in New Orleans. The three remaining Survivors will be part of a remembrance presentation and get special behind the scenes tours. When asked about the trip, Sgt. Maj. Braddock smiled and said, “We’ll be taking things one day at a time.”
Happy Birthday, Hero!