Twenty-Two, Forever - Specialist Hoby Frank Bradfield Jr.

Posted By Blackfive

“Day by day, fix your eyes upon the greatness of Athens, until you become filled with the love of her; and when you are impressed by the spectacle of her glory, reflect that this empire has been acquired by men who knew their duty and had the courage to do it.” - Thucydides, The Funeral Speech for Pericles

Hoby Bradfield Jr. graduated high school in 2001 in Virginia Beach, VA.  Immediately after witnessing the World Trade Center towers fall from his home in New Jersey, he called a recruiter and enlisted in the US Army.  A member of the warrior caste, Bradfield's father was a retired Navy veteran, his older brother an Army Cavalry Scout and his younger brother is now a Marine.

Hoby left his home and entered the Army on August 20th, 2002.  He trained to be a Cavalry Scout and was assigned to the Sabre Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado.  In a few short months, Bradfield went from raw recruit to leader among his peers.

Not long after joining the famed regiment, the 3rd ACR was sent to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom I.  There, Hoby Bradfield earned a reputation for being a fierce Scout.  As a Private First Class he was awarded the ARMCOM with V device for valor in combat and had been recommended for two Bronze Stars.

After returning from OIF, Hoby met a girl, Crystin, fell in love and got married.  He also trained to be a Combat Life Saver. 

Crystin became pregnant and Hoby was thrilled.

"...not even subzero temperatures at downrange Fort Carson can keep the smile from a man’s face when he tells his best friends he’s going to be a father,” said 1st Lt. Brian Oman, Bradfield's Troop platoon leader.

He knew the day would come when the regiment would back to Iraq.  Even though Crystin was pregnant, Bradfield volunteered to go back to Iraq.

On July 9th, 2005, Grim Troop of the 2nd Squadron moved into a neighborhood in Tal Afar to destroy a terrorist bombing cell.  During the cordon and search, one of Bradfield's team was hit and, as one of the Combat Life Savers, he raced to perform first aid.  Then, Specialist Bradfield was shot. 

Medics were called to the battle.  They stabilized Hoby, put him on the ambulance and raced to the hospital.

Terrorists were watching.  They detonated an IED and destroyed the ambulance instantly killing Hoby and the medic that was saving his life, PFC Eric Woods.

"There are troopers in the regiment who most definitely owe their lives to him," LTC Christopher Hickey, Commander, 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR said about Hoby in the memorial service held in Iraq where over 200 Cav Troopers attended.

On July 26th, 2005, Specialist Hoby Frank Bradfield Jr. was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.  Eric Woods family attended the memorial in Virginia and the burial at Arlington.

On September 3rd, Crystin Bradfield gave birth to Kloe Adell Bradfield who is the spittin' image of her dad.

My thoughts and prayers are with Hoby's family.

Today would have been Hoby's twenty-third birthday.

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Comments

[jtb-in-texas]

We, well most of us, aren't worthy of calling ourselves fellows to men like that; but thanks to God for His Mercy for letting our country still produce them by the thousands.

[Melinda]

Thanks for sharing this story, B5. Hearing of lives like his touch my heart on so many levels...as an American, a military wife and a mom of young girls...

Prayers for his family and especially for his little girl.

[David M]

"Brave Rifles"
To a brave trooper of 2/3ACR from a former trooper of 3/3ACR, Godspeed Spc Bradfield!

[David M]

"Brave Rifles"
To a brave trooper of 2/3ACR from a former trooper of 3/3ACR, Godspeed Spc Bradfield!

[Barbara]

I was just out at ANC yesterday visiting some family and friends. I remember stopping at Hoby's grave for a moment (Section 60 near York Drive) and noting his unusual first name. I'm pretty sure the reason I stopped was because there was a picture of a newborn at the grave along with some flowers. Thanks for the rest of the story, Blackfive. Hoby, Crystin, and Kloe Adell - you will never be forgotten.

[Danielle]

the best of men are lost in war... and the worst of them benefit from it... we could use more men like Specialist Bradfield in this world.

[tom]

Godspeed, Spc Bradfield.

--------
"Terrorists were watching. They detonated an IED and destroyed the ambulance instantly killing Hoby and the medic that was saving his life, PFC Eric Woods."

To me, this provides a partial justification for this conflict (among others): Bradfield was fighting against men who would blow up an ambulance to kill the wounded and the healers. Evil %$#!s.

[Wild Thing]

I wish with all my heart that non of ours would ever get hurt or be killed. Oh how I wish and pray that every day.America truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave in the truest sense of every word. My freedom.....a debt that I can never repay.

[Maggie45]

Happy Birthday in heaven, Hoby. God rest your soul. I thank you and your family for your sacrifice for us.

Thank you Matt for posting these reminders of just how blessed we all are.

[adele]

I will keep this family in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for letting us know about them.

[Jim - PRS]

My sadness at reading this is equalled by the gratitude I feel for living in a country that produced a man such as Hoby Bradfield.

May he rest in peace. My thoughts are with his family.

[dee]

God Bless this soldier, saddened by the loss, but grateful for his bravery and his service to our country.

[Joe]

When all this first started back in 2001, we would read about someone like Hoby and we'd say, "where do we find these kind of men"?
We now know where they are.... they are all around us! We also now know that extraordinary acts of courage, sacrifice, selflessness, compassion, and honor are the ordinary virtues of our magnificent Warriors. To his Family: Your Father was a man's man. His sacrifice for freedom is a testament to the virtues that he believed were worth the sacrifice. Always honor his memory by always upholding that for which he gave the last full measure of devotion.

[Subsunk]

Another Man among Men. God Bless Hoby Bradfield, and his family.

Susbunk

[Subsunk]

Another Man among Men. God Bless Hoby Bradfield, and his family.

Susbunk

[Nicholas]

Wait.. they purposfully blew up an AMBULANCE???

How many articles were there in the newspapers expressing outrage about that event? There must have been a lot, since it's such an outrageous act.... right? .... right?

[cg68doc]

Nicholas, not a peep of outrage. It was reported, I believe in some places, but nothing in the MSM about it.

[Crystin Bradfield]

For everyone that has ever had a loving thought or said a prayer for my family, I thank you. At the same time please remember the Woods and every other family that has had to make the same sacrifice that we have. We are proud of our loved ones and miss them every day
Crystin Bradfield

[Air Ambulance Doc]

It's a great loss for all of us.

[Jamie Woods]

Crystin, we will forever be connected by this terrible event that has changed our lives and our families forever. Although I wish this on no one, I am so thankful that I have you to go through this with. Eric Scott and Kloe will share this same bond. Let us never lose touch. I love you! Jamie

[Ron Bradfield]

I was just doing a simple search to find any relatives of mine that might be uncovered via the internet, when I discover Hoby Frank Bradfield, Jr. and his story. I was at first struck by how much my deceased father and I resemble his picture. Although my father and my face is somewhat more rounded, many features like the shape of the eyes, nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin are very similar. So too are the blue eyes and brown hair.

As a Naval officer veteran from the Viet Nam war era, I am so proud to see such a brave and heroic, yet tragic, story about someone whom I can identify with more on a personal level. Indeed, Hoby Bradfield and I may not be related by anything other than our common surname, but we are related in spirit and my appreciation for a man who was willing to do his duty and did it with passion, dignity, and love for his family and country. I certainly do not wish for anyone to have to sacrifice his life for what he believes in, but the truth is that no belief would be worth having if no one is willing to make that sacrifice. Even though I do not personally believe that the United States should have entered or should continue to be in Iraq, I wholeheartedly support the men and women who have served there and, especially for those who have died or been wounded there and their families, I have the highest respect and admiration for them.

I do hope that the vision of letting the people of Iraq live in a democracy and respect for human rights will succeed. I have my doubts that it will. No sane or free thinking person can doubt that ousting Saddam Hussein and his sons from power was not a goal worthy in and of itself. What Iraq will become in the future can only be speculation now, no one can be sure of it. What I have no doubt in is the intention and devotion of good women and men who were willing to expose themselves to accomplish goals they believed were worth possibly losing their health or life over. These are the men and women we should honor and hold dear to our hearts.

[Justin]

Hoby i remember the day you fell and i remember holding you in my arms carying you to the med-evac and you are a greater man than i will ever be and i keep your spirits in the highest regard you are my brother and my friend rest in peace.... i still say your cheers every time i get a shot, and i always will... love you

justin

[brian burton]

You are not forgotten