US Army SFC James Bradley was born in Defuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida in 1926 (other data shows October 9, 1926), the son of James Oscar Bradley (1893-1960) and Flossie McCall (1894-1972). His father was a native of Red Bay in Walton County but had lived in Pensacola since 1926. He supported his family as a turpentine operator with the family home in Millview, with his mother-in-law Texas McCall living next door. As late as 1960, his wife, two sons, and one daughter were living in Pensacola with two sisters in Milton.
Little is known of James' formative years however he claimed four years of high school we do know that he enlisted on July 6, 1945 and was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing (# 44113291). He was assigned to the US Army's 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. At the beginning of the war the battalion was detached from the 2nd Armored Division and sent to Korea as an independent command. The battalion would participate in the famous Inchon and Iwon amphibious landings and the X Corp's defense of the northeastern peninsular against the Chinese. Throughout the war the battalion was never part of any one command but was sent where they were needed most.
At the end of the war, negotiations began to break down over the question of POW exchange and other issues. To encourage the UN to move toward an agreement, the Chinese launched an all-out offensive against a US and South Korean salient along the Kumsong River. During the night of July 13, 1953, the Chinese opened up with heavy artillery and mortar barrages. Then in the early morning hours of July 14th the most fierce fighting since 1951 commenced when over 60,000 Chinese soldiers attacked along the Kumsong River. Two artillery battalions, the 555th and the 92nd, were completely overrun. The crews of the 92nd saw thousands of Chinese storming down the valley's mountainside in front of them screaming and with bugles blaring. Their artillery was firing down on the helpless American gun crews blowing them to bits. One of the battalion's batteries lost 70% of its men during the day's fighting. The 555th ("Triple Nickel") was completely overrun with 87 casualties. Those captured were force marched northward for several weeks and were not exchanged until after the cease fire of July 27th, thus ending the Korean War. The Battle of Kimsong would cost the UN forces 12,000 casualties with the Chinese totals placed at 28,000.
However, SFC James Bradley was one of the men of the 92nd Armored Artillery Battalion that disappeared that night. His body was never recovered, which meant that he was probably captured and marched north as a POW. He likely died or was executed along the way, but regardless no further information was ever uncovered.
Pensacola News Journal 8-10-1953
Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial
Pensacola News Journal 7-22-1960
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