Joseph S. Bradley

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Joseph S. Bradley (0-12428), Brigadier General, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Assistant Division Commander, 2d Infantry Division, from 2 through 5 September 1950, after the enemy had broken through the lines of the 9th and 23rd Infantry Regiments in what proved to be his last attempt to crush the United Nations forces in Korea. General Bradley was ordered by the Commanding General, Second Infantry Division, to take command of the scattered units south of the breakthrough and to defend the town of Yongsan and the pass leading back to Miryang at all costs. Hastily gathering disorganized elements of the First and 2d Battalions, Ninth Infantry, General Bradley reorganized them together with the Second Engineer Combat Battalion and elements of the 72nd Tank Battalion, and beat off repeated enemy attacks. On 2 September 1950, with enemy tanks in the town of Yongsan, he personally took charge of the disorganized Engineer Battalion and placed Company D in position to beat back and destroy the Communists in the town. On the next day, a force of eight hundred enemy infantry with tanks and self-propelled guns threatened to come in from the south and overrun the command post of the Ninth Infantry and the nearby artillery positions from the rear. General Bradley again went forward under heavy fire and directed a task force consisting of tanks and engineers against this threat, and with two batteries of 166-mm. howitzers firing at extreme muzzle elevation, so short was the range, succeeded in driving back the enemy force with heavy casualties. Throughout the period of this desperate, last-ditch defense in which even elements of the Division Band and clerks from the rear echelon were put into the line, General Bradley was always in front, encouraging individual riflemen to stand fast in spite of enemy penetrations to their flanks and rear. On the fourth and fifth of September, with the enemy stopped but still capable of exploiting their success, General Bradley rallied his decimate force to make a coordinated counterattack with the First Provisional Marine Brigade and again leading the forward elements, successfully restored the position. By his extraordinary heroism and outstanding example of valor, General Bradley was an inspiration to the entire command and was directly responsible for stopping the enemy attack.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 169 (November 13, 1950).

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Joseph S. Bradley (0-12428), Colonel (General Staff Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Member of the General Staff Corps, 32d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 28 December 1942, during the Papuan Campaign at Buna, New Guinea. To further an attack by an infantry company against a strongly fortified enemy area, Colonel Bradley left his command post, went to the most forward positions, personally aided the progress of the attack, and contributed materially to its success. While under heavy enemy fire he moved about among the men continually risking his life to encourage and assist the advance in every way possible. Colonel Bradley’s inspiring leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 32d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.