Henry E Bradford

Henry E. Bradford was a North Carolinian whose service to his country spanned two major conflicts—World War II and the Korean War. A soldier of courage and endurance, he served in the United States Army and became one of the few men to survive captivity as a prisoner of war during the Korean conflict.

While exact details of his early service remain limited, records and memorial listings confirm that Bradford served in the U.S. Army during World War II, associated with the famed 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Big Red One.” This unit fought in some of the most decisive campaigns in Europe, including the North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy operations.

When war erupted again on the Korean Peninsula, Bradford was assigned to K Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, one of the first American divisions deployed to Korea in 1950. In July of that year, during the desperate early battles near Taejon, his unit fought against overwhelming North Korean forces. On July 11, 1950, Sergeant Henry E. Bradford was captured and became a prisoner of war.
Bradford endured more than three years in captivity under brutal conditions in North Korea and Manchuria. He was among a group of American POWs known as the “Tiger Survivors,” named for their notoriously harsh captor, “The Tiger.” Despite starvation, forced marches, disease, and abuse, Bradford survived—an enduring testament to his strength and willpower.

After 38 months of imprisonment, he was finally repatriated on August 23, 1953, during Operation Big Switch, which exchanged surviving POWs after the armistice. Official Army records list him under service number RA-36305824 and confirm his release from captivity after one of the longest and most difficult ordeals suffered by U.S. soldiers in that war.