John C. Bratton

Birth: Nov. 17, 1919, Kissimmee, Osceola County, Florida, USA

Death: Sep. 1, 1944, France

John moved to Gray, Washington County, Tennessee after his marriage. He enlisted in the United States Army at Camp Blanding, Florida on 21 December 1942 and listed his home as Washington County, Tennessee.

After Boot Camp, John was assigned to the 195th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Ord, California. The 195th fired the Tractor-Drawn 8-inch Howitzer. John departed New York Harbor, New York on 11 February 1944 and arrived England on 23 February.

John and the 195th were then assigned to the VII United States Corps and arrived Normandy, France on 16 June 1944, D-Day plus 10. John participated in two Unit Campaigns: Normandy and Northern France. He was Killed in Action on 1 September 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. John was 24 years old.

John’s the son of James Gregory Bratton and Rebecca Temperance Sharpe. He was married to Katheryn Pearl Isenberg from Gray, Washington County, Tennessee.