Fred Garland Bragg, Jr

The database page for Fred Garland Bragg, Jr

11 Aug 2001 I was on the radio with Fred when his unit was overrun. Call me at 619/269-8418. A memorial initiated by his friend, Larry Patterson 4sanpat@cox.net

09 Mar 2003 His Life was an inspiration His death, though heroic Leaves a sadness We will never forget. From his brother, Jeffrey S. Bragg 104 Huntcliff Dr, Columbia, SC, 29229 jsb121c@aol.com

Fred G. Bragg, Jr., attended BYU during his sophomore year of college, 1960-1961, and he had also applied to return in the fall of 1967. First Lieutenant Bragg died while serving as an artillery forward observer for B Btry, 4th Bn, 42nd Arty Rgt, on July 12, 1967. On that day the enemy forces had managed to pin down his company with small arms and mortar fire. When the company commander was killed Lt. Bragg took charge and was able to regroup them into a more secure and defendable position. Moving bravely among his men, he boosted their moral by giving them the needed encouragement. Lt. Bragg was injured in this effort but continued to direct deadly fire on the insurgent forces. He continued to do this until a mortar round took out his last existing radio. When the enemy forces began to advance on Lt. Bragg and his men, Lt. Bragg stayed in the open to defend his troops and poured round after round of deadly fire into the advancing enemy force. Due to his actions on that day First Lieutenant Fred Bragg was awarded posthumously the nation's second highest medal, the Distinguished Service Cross. Fred G. Bragg served his country for three years and was due to return home from his tour of duty soon after he was killed. Lt. Bragg also earned several other medals, not least of which was the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. One newspaper article cited a commendation as having said that he had received the awards for "masterful precision" in directing supporting artillery fire into enemy positions. Lt. Bragg was a true credit to his family, his faith, the U.S. Army and the United States of America. Contact Information: Mr. & Mrs. Bragg 1777 Jones RR Granville, OH 43023 Taken from http://memorialhall.byu.edu/vietnam/fbragg.html

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 12 July 1967, the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, was engaged in the Ia Drang Valley by a battalion or larger force from the 66th NVA Regiment. When engaged, the 1/12's three rifle companies were physically separated, allowing the enemy force to attack the companies individually - B Company and C Company were isolated and taken under attack. Although C Company suffered only minor losses (5 wounded and none killed), B Company took heavy losses. 1st Lt Bragg had been with 1/12 Infantry for some months as the leader of an artillery Forward Observer team. When Captain Brian W Rushton, the B Company Commander, was killed, Bragg was directed to take command of the company. He did, and fought it with courage until he also was killed - one of 33 men who died that day. Additional information and a full listing of the casualties is on The Virtual Wall's C/1/12 Infantry Memorial HQ US ARMY, VIETNAM, APO San Francisco 96375 14 September 1967 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 4664 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. Fred Garland Bragg, Jr., First Lieutenant, Artillery Battery B, 4th Battalion, 42d Artillery Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date action: 12 July 1967 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery B, 4th Battalion, 42d Artillery, 4th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Bragg distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 July 1967 while serving as artillery forward observer with an infantry company on a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border in the Central Highlands. When his company was surrounded and the company commander was killed, Lieutenant Bragg immediately took command and directed extremely deadly artillery fire on the insurgent forces. He bravely moved among his men giving encouragement and regrouping them into a more secure defense although he was fully exposed to intense mortar and automatic weapons fire. Seriously wounded, he continued to direct air strikes on the advancing enemy until a mortar round destroyed his only remaining radio. Staying in the open, he poured round after round of deadly fire into the advancing enemy force. He gave his life while bravely leading his men in the face of overwhelming odds. First Lieutenant Bragg's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his brother, Wendell Bragg wwbragg@msn.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 11 Aug 2001
Last updated 07/18/2006