Road dedication Oct. 22 honors MIA U.S. Marine

In honor of MIA Pvt. 1st Class Charles William Bradshaw, U.S.M.C., the intersection at Cove and Camp Road in Walker County will be dedicated and renamed, Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be at Bethel Baptist Church, Cove Road, in Chickamauga.

Bradshaw, born Sept. 17, 1932, resided in Kensington, Ga., and attended Gordon Lee High School. In 1951, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and was assigned to the USS Sarasota.

The last letter from the Secretary of the Navy dated July 1954, stated:

“In Korea, on the night of the 25th and early morning of the 26th April 1953, Bradshaw served as the Fire Team Leader and the participating with a ten-man patrol in defense team. He 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.

He was severely wounded when the enemy hand grenades landed upon his position, but refused to be evacuated when it was apparent his outpost would be overrun by the enemy. He delivered fire upon the enemy until he was unable to continue. Bradshaw 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 Bradshaw was last seen there was no trace of him except his helmet. Due to his self-sacrificing efforts, he was instrumental in saving the lives of other and he courteously gave his life for his country.

The actual date of his death is not definitely known. A board of officers carefully reviewed all evidence. In view of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the lapse 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 April 26, 1954.

The ultimate sacrifice was made by Charles and he will never be forgotten by all that knew him.