The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Wilber E. Bradt, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 152d Field Artillery Battalion, 43d Infantry Division in the vicinity of Manaoag, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 12 January 1945. Colonel Bradt displayed exemplary courage and devotion to duty in assisting in the rescue of a wounded Filipino who had volunteered to guide a guerrilla patrol, under an American infantry officer, to an enemy position. Upon hearing that the party was pinned down by enemy fire from a concealed position, Colonel unhesitatingly joined a small, volunteer rescue party and proceeded to the scene, taking a field radio set to maintain contact with field artillery units under his command. While the wounded man, lying in an open field directly in line with enemy fire, was being rescued, Colonel Bradt personally joined in the fire fight covering the rescue from an exposed position. From this very position he further directed by radio the delivery of artillery fire upon the hostile position so close to his position as to involve great personal danger to himself. Colonel Bradt’s coolness under fire and his total disregard for personal safety on this occasion set an example which greatly contributed to the effectiveness of unit.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery)Batallion:
152d Field Artillery BattalionDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
January 18, 1945
Headquarters, 43d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 20 (1945)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Wilber E. Bradt, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 18 January 1945 on Hill 200, while serving as Commanding Officer, 152d Field Artillery Battalion, 43d Infantry Division, just North of Pozorrubio, Luzon, Philippines Islands. While directing fire Colonel Bradt displayed courage and devotion to duty. For two days previous our troops which were attacking on Hill 200 had been constantly harassed by enemy fire from positions which could not be definitely located. Of his own volition, Colonel Bradt went to the most forward position in order that he might determined the location of the enemy firing positions. although under heavy artillery fire, some of which landed only feet from him, he moved to more exposed positions from which he could better locate the enemy guns. By his deliberate coolness, courage, and utter disregard for his own safety, Colonel Bradt was able to obtain data which resulted in the destruction of the enemy positions.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery)Batallion:
152d Field Artillery BattalionDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
February 24 – September 21, 1943
Headquarters, USAFISPA, General Orders No. 545 (December 30, 1943)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Wilber E. Bradt, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services on the way to and in the South Pacific Area, from 24 February 1941 to 21 September 1943. In New Georgia, Solomon Islands, he supervised the direction of fire on 14 July 1943, which helped the infantry to seize strategic Horseshoe Hill. On the following day his battalion’s fire forced the retreat of Japanese troops who threatened annihilation of an infantry command post. From 20 to 30 July, his battalion ably supported two infantry regiments and, on one occasion during this period, Colonel Bradt directed all artillery battalions of a division in massed fire which virtually wiped out an enemy command post. His supervision of fire in support of infantry operations on both Baanga and Arundel Islands was outstanding. The continuous superior achievement of Colonel Bradt contributed much to the success of the New Georgia campaign.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery)Batallion:
152d Field Artillery BattalionDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
January 9 – March 26, 1945
Headquarters, 43d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 52 (March 26, 1945)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Wilber E. Bradt, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commanding Officer of a Field Artillery battalion on Luzon, Philippine Islands from 9 January to 26 March 1945.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery)Batallion:
152d Field Artillery BattalionDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
April 5, 1945
Headquarters, 43d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 311 (1945)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Wilber E. Bradt, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 152d Field Artillery Battalion, 43d Infantry Division at Lumban, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 5 April 1945. Colonel Bradt, driving his own light truck equipped with a radio, advanced at the head of a column for the purpose of directing artillery fire in support of a fast-moving situation. Along with four other vehicles, he became separated from the rest of the column by a Jap road block. Two vehicles directly in front of his were fired upon and disabled, thus blocking his way. In spite of the great danger involved, Colonel Bradt courageously pushed forward through enemy fire in order to secure a vitally important bridge. Knowing that enemy troops occupied the opposite bank, he raced his vehicle to the opposite bank and, with a handful of men, established a bridgehead and secured the bridge. With his group now cut off from the rear, with no prospective reinforcements, Colonel Bradt vitally assisted in repelling an enemy counterattack. Immediately after, with his radio he contacted and directed his cub plane pilot to request assistance from friendly troops advancing near the town. Due to the superior enemy forces and the tactical situation, the troops were not in position to render immediate assistance. Colonel then directed his pilot to land on a nearby road and offer artillery support to the friendly troops. Artillery fire destroyed the enemy forces and allowed our troops to advance. While directing the artillery fire, Colonel Bradt was fired upon by snipers from the rear. During this entire period of several hours, Colonel Bradt remained calm and cool, displayed outstanding traits of gallantry and utter disregard for danger and his own safety.