Charles Bradley (1) (1911–)

Writing a review of Aleutian Echoes feels a bit futile, because I very much doubt if many folks will ever read it. There has to be some reason to read about something as obscure as the North Pacific Combat School which operated for a year and a half on Unalaska and Adak in the Aleutians and processed/trained less than 300 men during its short tenure in 1944-45. Well, my own convoluted reason for being interested is that I "almost" got sent to the Aleutians back in the early 60s. I was one of ten army Morse code intercept operators given special training at Ft Meade, MD, in the summer of 1963. Five were assigned to Sinop (Turkey) and five to the Aleutian atoll of Shemya. I drew Sinop, but five of my buddies from the past several months of training at Ft Devens and Meade, headed NW to the Aleutians. In my own memoir, SOLDIER BOY, I have documented my own adventures in Sinop, but I have always wondered what an Aleutian assignment would have been like. Charles Bradley's beautifully rendered memoir of his WWII years there have answered many of my unasked questions. Unalaska and Adak sound like pretty unforgiving and harsh places, but Bradley's intense interest in the flora and fauna, the climate and terrain, the extreme weather conditions, etc. all make for a very interesting book, and his beautiful photographs, water colors and pencil sketches of the area are tremendous "extras." It helps, I think, that Bradley was older than the average WWII recruit, in his early 30s, so his story is a bit more mature and thoughtful than my own recorded experiences from 20 years later in northern Turkey. His stories of training on the slopes and summits of the volcanic peaks are, by turns, scary and comical. And I was especially moved by his description of the breaking up of the unit after VJ-Day -

"We packed our gear and waited our turns for transportation home. NPCS broke up, one or two chunks at a time. There was lots of pounding shoulders, waving, yelling insults, and good wishes. Also there were unseen lumps in the throats and awareness of an unforgettable adventure ending."

This passage brought to mind partings of my own from close army buddies of 2-3 years, and the (unkept) promises to keep in touch. Lumps in the throats indeed. Friendships forged in the military are the strongest ones you ever make, no question, and are never repeated in later life. Charles Bradley is gone now, and I am very sad that I can't write or call him and tell him personally how much I enjoyed his story and thank him for his service. Godspeed, Charley, wherever you are.… (meer)