Herman L. “Bud” Bracken, age 88, a resident of Oak Ridge, passed away, Thursday, May 15, 2014, at the Ben Atchley Tennessee Veterans Home in Knoxville.

Mr. Bracken was born March 26, 1926, in Chimney Rock, N.C. He and his family moved to Oak Ridge in 1943.

“Bud” was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and served his country in World War II. While serving in the Army, on his 19th birthday he boarded a ship headed for the invasion of Okinawa. Three months later, the bomb was dropped, and Japan surrendered.

After his return to the United States, he was again on a ship headed for South Korea. In 1949, he was discharged from the U.S. Army and then he enlisted into the U.S. Air Force and he served for a total of 21 years, six months, and 25 days. While serving, he received several medals, citations, ribbons, and commendations. [Read more…]