A road dedication in Chickamauga will be on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 4068 S. Highway 341, Chickamauga, in honor of Private First Class Charles W. Bradshaw
who sacrificed his life in the service of his country in Korea, on Oct. 22, 1954.
The road intersection of Cove Road at Camp Road will become PFC Charles W. Bradshaw Memorial Intersection.
The alternate location will be in the church fellowship hall.
Charles William Bradshaw was born Sept.
17, 1932, to Technical Sargent (TSARG) William Jackson and Anna Hall Bradshaw. He was the oldest of five children, having two brothers, James and Earl and two sisters, Mary and Joy Bradshaw. He resided in Kensington, Ga., and attended Pond Springs Elementary, Gordon Lee High School and then Berry High School in Rome, Ga.
On Jan. 12, 1951, Charles enlisted into the United States Marine Corp. He was stationed in Paris Island, S.C. through Basic Training. He was then assigned to the USS SARASOTA in 1952 and toured Europe. On March 27, 1957, after his death, he was awarded the Navy Occupation Service Medal with the Europe Clasp for his service.
Charles was assigned to Korea and during his tour on March 20, 1953, he was wounded as a result of enemy action and was awarded “The Purple Heart”.
The last letter from the Secretary of the Navy dated July 58, 1954, stated, in Korea, on the night of the 25th and early morning of 26th April 1953 Charles served as the Fire Team Leader and the participating with a ten-man patrol in defense team, Charles detected an enemy force approaching within a few yards and opened fire killing the leading element of the hostile patrol and holding off the attackers until accurate fire could be brought by his comrades. Charles was severely wounded when the enemy hand grenades landed upon his position. Charles refused to be evacuated when it was apparent his outpost would be overrun by the enemy. He delivers fire upon the enemy until he was unable to continue. Charles handed his weapon to another member of the patrol and he voluntarily remained in position in order to allow his comrades to make a quick withdrawal. In another letter from the Headquarters of USMC stated, when it was safe for his comrades to returned to the hole where Charles was last seen there was no trace of Charles except his helmet. Due to his self-sacrificing efforts, Charles was instrumental in saving the lives of other and He courteously gave his life for his country.
As noted from the Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps. the actual date of Charles’s death is not definitely known. A board of officers carefully reviewed all evidence. In view of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the laps of time without word of his whereabouts, the fact that he lost his life in Korea is conclusive and inescapable. The findings of death were made on April 26, 1954.
In July, 1954 Charles was awarded the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism for action against the enemy aggressor forces in Korea, on the night of 25-26, April 1953.
On Oct. 22, 1954, Charles was awarded the Purple Heart with gold star lapel button. This star is in lieu of a second Purple Heart. He was also awarded the United Nations Service Medal for his service in Korea.
In May, 1955, Charles was awarded the Wharang Medal with Gold Star and certificate by order of the President of Korea.
On March 26, 1957, Charles was awarded the Navy Occupation Service Medal with the Europe Clasp while on the USS SARASOTA as mentioned earlier, the Navy Unit Commendation with ribbon bar, the National Defense Service Metal, and the Korean Service metal.
The “Ultimate Sacrifice” was made by Charles and he will never be forgotten by all that knew him.
According to MIA facts 1,626 MIA Military are still unaccounted for.