James C.
Bradford
May 19, 1941– February 6, 2024
James C. Bradford, Jr.
The Citadel Class of 1963
Delta Company
Lt. Col. James
C. Bradford, Jr., U. S Army, Retired, died February 6, 2024. Colonel Bradford served for 24 years as an
army officer with overseas tours of duty in Vietnam, Germany, Norway, and
Turkey and at military installations within the Continental United States. His
decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple
Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with 2
Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal
with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service
Medal as well as numerous campaign medals and service ribbons. He was a paratrooper and was awarded the
Combat Infantry Badge for combat service in Vietnam. Memorable assignments
include battalion commander in the 8th Infantry Division and
commander of the U.S. Army element of the elite Allied Mobile Force (Land) a
nine nation NATO strike force with the mission of deploying to the border of
NATO countries being threatened by the Soviet Union and stand as the first line
of defense.
He was a
graduate of the U.S Army Command & General Staff College and received his
Masters of Business Administration from Missouri State University. After his retirement from the military,
Colonel Bradford was employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia for 19 years
retiring as Assistant Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles.
He was a 32 degree
Mason and a life member of Metropolitan Lodge # 11, Richmond, Virginia. He was also a life member of the National
Sojourners, Heroes of ‘76, the American Legion (Post # 234) and the Association
of Citadel Men.
He was
married to his loving wife, Mary Pat Bradford, for 53 years who proceeded him
in death in 2018. He is survived by
three sons (James C. Bradford III, Jeffrey C. Bradford and Kenneth C. Bradford
– Citadel ‘96), and six grandchildren:
Jacob W. Bradford,
Keri M. Bradford, Cade P. Bradford, Jillian L. Bradford,
Katherine L. Bradford and Benjamin J. Bradford and great-grandson Leo J.
Motley.
Interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a
later date.
Ø The Citadel
requests that death notices not be sent on-line. A written obituary should be FAXed or sent via U.S. Mail to the Citadel Alumni Office:
The Citadel
Alumni Office
171 Moultrie
Street
Charleston,
SC 29409-6130