by Kaitie Scott
Floyd Brantley
Floyd Brantley had lost a brother in war, yet he was still eager to be able to serve his country. Meeting him was such a sweet time. He loved asking me about college and family just as much as I loved learning about his life. Brantley is grateful that he is still able to attend events honoring war veterans like him and where he is able to meet other men who served. Floyd Brantly is a true Undercover Hero.
Photo by Molly Anne Turner
GOING INTO WAR
SERVICE
AFTER THE WAR
DELUSION OF DEFERMENT
NAVY MEDICS
ANTS IN PANTS
NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND
AIR FORCE
Photo by Molly Anne Turner
Floyd Brantley served during World War II in the United States Navy as a medic. He was ranked as a Pharmacist Mate Thrid Class. Later, he served in the Korean War in the United States Air Force.
Brantley wanted to serve his country. He was eighteen when he recieved a letter stating that he was to be drafted into war. However, he would be defered for six months allowing him to finish high school. Brantley had another plan in mind. Instead of finishing high school, he cut the bottom of the letter off and showed his mom that we was going to war.
His mom was not thrilled. She had already lost one son, Brantley's older brother, to war. Now she could possibly lose another. "It was an emotional time," he stated.
Brantley explained how there are two different types of medics. The first type of medics are those who are on the frontline with the troops. Their
main purpose was to rescue the men who were wounded on the frontline. They then would bring them to the hospital as soon as possible. The second type of medic, which was Brantley's role, were the medics who were assigned to the fleet hospital, behind the frontline.
Brantley worked primarialy with the doctors and the nurses. He took care of and bandaged wounded men as soon as they arrived. For the next several weeks, medics would continue to take care of the wounded. If they became well enough, they would go back and fight. If they did not become well they would be discharged and sent home.
"War it is...," he began. "It is, well, no one knows until you go." As Brantley has mentioned, it was a difficult time for his family, especially his mother. It was also a difficult time being a medic in the war.
"You meet all kinds of people, both good and bad," he continued, "You make a lot of friends and you lose a lot of friends."
Another thing that Brantley mentioned that was diffcult was when he would ride on the train during his time in the Korean War. He mentioned how you would ride past a lot of small towns and homes where you knew people where home. It reminded him and others, they were not home.
-Floyd Brantley
Brantley would have continued to be a medic in the Navy. However, once he retunred from World War II he decided to finish high school. He had been in the Navy Reserve and then went off to Baylor University in Texas.
To allow him to finish school, the Navy released him and once he graduated he went into the Air Force. He was then headed to Korea.
In Korea, his role was quite different from that in the Navy. Brantley transported people, freight, the wounded and men leaving to and from Japan.
War is definitely not a humorous event. In the midst of battle and other traumic events that occur, however, it is often wondered if men have some funny memories.
Brantley was able to recall one moment of laughter. One of the chiefs, mentioned how he could put one of the men in hypnoses. He went on to explain how the man did not believe his chief. Brantley chuckled as he mentioned how his chief was able to put the man into hypnoses and had him believe that he truly had ants in his pants. The man got up and just started squirmming and swatting at his pants.
Brantley went on to add, "You do have some fun experiences." However, it was still war and those fun experiences were few.
THE SERIOUS MOMENTS
"To be able to help people that are wounded in service and being able to serve them," Brantley stated was one of the most rewarding things about being a medic. He was serving his country by serving others within the war.
Brantley closed his eyes and said, "It is real emotional when you bring [men] in and you see their legs and arms and you see their sorrow and wounds." Some men make it and some men do not.
What a unique and graphic job he had.
"It was just a thrill," Brantley discussed the emotion of returning home and why. "First, there would be no more killing and second that we'd be going home. One thing all men look forward to is returning home."
Brantley has had several oppurtunities to return to Korea since the war. He mentioned how interesting it is to see how modern it has become. "Kids will come up and say thank you," he said. "They respect the Americans."
Brantley has also had the oppurtunity to the Washington to be apart of the National World War II Memorial. "It was great," Brantley stated.
He has also visited New York for a World War II Veteran Parade. He hopes to be able to attend an event for World War II veterans in California that is coming up soon.
It is interesting for Brantley to meet other veterans at such events. The reason it is intersting because you meet people that are different in looks and ages, but to here their stories of service is an experience to remember. "It's a happy time," he stated.
Only the men who served in war can truly share the emotions and understand and events where Brantley and others can join together is a time Brantley does not take for granted.
AWARDS HONORED
Brantley was awarded a Phillipines Certificate, Korean Government Award, and other awards.
FAITH IN ACTION
"I had a strong faith that God would get me through," Brantley said. "You gotta keep going."
He told of a fond memory with a native of Korea. One native who was about twenty needed help. The Air Force helped natives as well too. Brantley met the young man and asked if he believed in God. The man exclaimed, "Yes, yes!"
The native told Brantley how there were Presbyterian missionaries who had been before and how he accepted Christ. The native's eyes just lit up as he was talking about Christ.
Brantley continued to share how the man asked him to sing Amazing Grace with him. "And so we sang Amazing Grace," he said smiling.
"You make a lot of friends and you lose a lot
of friends."
"And so we
sang
Amazing Grace."
-Floyd Brantley