Joseph Brady Wadsworth

May 28, 1942

BRADY WADSWORTH, who is enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps, is spending the weekend here with relatives.

August 27, 1942

FLAGLER MEN IN FOREIGN-SERVICE

A number of men from Flagler County are now serving in our armed forces in foreign fields; it is believed, because several have lately notified their families that mail should be sent in care of the postmaster in New York or San Francisco.

BRADY WADSWORTH, Richard Tucker and Buck Durrance, Marines, present address is care postmaster. San Francisco, Clare Biddle, army flyer, is being addressed care post: master, New York City.

Others, whose foreign field is already known include: Ralph Harbert, New Caledonia; Virden Knox, and Franklin Thompson, England.

October 1, 1942

Richard Tucker, Hollis Parker and BRADY WADSWORTH, are with their Marine outfits at Guadalcanal, writing home to say they are all OK.

November 19, 1942

Pfc. BRADY WADSWORTH, a marine who saw action at Guadalcanal and who has been on a furlough here for several weeks, expects to report to San Diego, California soon. Brady is trying to arrange for plane reservation for the return trip.

December 3, 1942

BRADY WADSWORTH, wounded in action several months ago, has been transferred to the naval base hospital in Jacksonville to receive further treatment. He spent last weekend here with his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Wadsworth.

February 25, 1943

Flagler county has four veterans of the present war at home now, all of whom are eligible to join the American Legion. They are BRADY WADSWORTH, Danny Harding, William Deen and Martin (Sambo) McDaniel.

June 24, 1943

WADSWORTH GETS PURPLE HEART

JOSEPH BRADY WADSWORTH, ex-Marine of Bunnell, was this week awarded the Purple Heart for his action with the original Marine contingent to land at Guadalcanal. Wadsworth was wounded on August 21, 1942, and was discharged from the service a few months ago.

In addition to the Purple Heart, Wadsworth also received a division citation from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox for the First Marine Division (Re.) under command of General Alexander A. Vandergrift, USMC.

Wadsworth is also entitled to and will receive after the war, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal: for service in the South Pacific area.

"Guadalcanal Diary," widely read book written by International News Service Correspondent Richard Tregakis while with the Marines at Guadalcanal, has this to say (on page 150) about Wadsworth:

"I stopped at Colonel Pollack’s command post and talked with him about the officers and men of his outfit who had distinguished themselves in yesterday’s battle. There were many, but several were outstanding.

"Private Joe Wadsworth had occupied a foxhole on Hell Point at the time early yesterday morning when the Japs made their all-out effort to cross the Tenaru Sandbar and penetrate our lines, He had fired at them with his automatic rifle, killing several until his gun jammed. Then he had picked up a Springfield rifle and fired with that, and finally, when the Japs had come close, he had jumped up and ran to meet them with his bayonet. Then he had been knocked down. But he refused to be evacuated until the more seriously wounded had been cared for…”

September 23, 1943

Former Marine BRADY WADSWORTH is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week, going there as a delegate from the Fourth District of the Florida American Legion, he being a member of our post here. Today's newspapers show a picture of Brady at the national convention of the Legion shaking hands with Manpower Commissioner Paul McNutt, a former national commander of the American Legion.

September 30, 1943

OLD AND NEW WAR VETERANS (Cutline): JOSEPH BRADY WADSWORTH, 21-year-old veteran of World War 2, and member of Flagler Post No. 115, of the American Legion here, is shown chatting with War Manpower Commissioner Paul V. McNutt at the 1943 national convention of the American Legion. Wadsworth attended the convention as a delegate from the Fourth District of Florida, and is an active member of the local post. He was seriously wounded when the Marines first went in against the Japs on Guadalcanal. He has received the Purple Heart award and two separate citations for bravery in action.

November 4, 1943

LEGION TO GIVE SPECIAL AWARDS

As a part of its observance of Armistice Day on November 11, the local post of the American Legion will award to Mr. and Mrs. Z. E. Booe and to Mr. and Mrs. L. M. McCraney the American Legion Gold Star Citation in honor of their sons who died in action in World War two.

A Silver Star Citation, awarded for wounds received in action, will be presented also to BRADY WADSWORTH, former Marine who is now a member of the post after being discharged from the service after being wounded in the first Marine engagements on Guadalcanal.

The public is cordially invited to attend this special meeting of the post, M. B. Fuller, commander said today. He added that "the post wishes to honor the dead and living of this war as well as the last on this Armistice Day."

The meeting will be held at eight o'clock in the evening in the community building.

December 16, 1943

First off, take a look at that guy above. Know him? Well we are indebted to public relations section of the Marine Corps, Atlanta, Ga., for the picture of "Corporal H. I. (Holis) Parker of Flagler Beach. Florida, (as he) buckles on his tree climbers while stringing lines somewhere in the southwest Pacific where his engineering unit of a Marine Corps division is stationed." Holis is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Parker of our beach town and he enlisted in the Marines (along with BRADY WADSWORTH and Buck Durrance) in January 1942. As you know, BRADY is a casual at home from Guadalcanal where he and Holis served. Buck and Holis, both are still somewhere in the southwest Pacific. (Our thanks to Marine Corps public relations Atlanta).

January 6, 1944

Wedding bells were working over-time during the holiday season and, according to announcements, one of Flagler county's navy officers and one ex-service man were in the swing.

BRADY WADSWORTH, Guadalcanal veteran who won for himself a write-up in "Guadalcanal Diary" and Miss Daisy Ruth Buckles of Bunnell and Jacksonville were married on Christmas day.

The first day of the new year proved to be a red letter day for Ensign Duane Deen who was married to Miss Luellen Lewis of Starkville, Mississippi, and also receiving his rating as Lt. Jg on same day.

November 23, 1944

Sgt. Holis I. Parker and Ack. John "Buck" Durrance, both Marines from Flagler Beach, have arrived in California and expect to be at their homes within two weeks, according to wires received by their parents this week. Both men have been in various actions in the Pacific for the past 31 months. Both are well.

These two, together with BRADY WADSWORTH enlisted in the Marine Corps in January, 1942. All three were shipped out to the Pacific about the same time. WADSWORTH was wounded in August 1942 on Guadalcanal, sent home later and honorably discharged because of wound.

December 7, 1944

MARINE VETERANS HOME ON LEAVE

Marine Sergeant Holis I. Parker, veteran of 29 months in the Southwest Pacific, and Ack. John "Buck" Durrance with 31 months in the same theater, arrived home this week for 30 day leaves with their parents at Flagler Beach.

Sgt. Parker enlisted in the Marine Corps with BRADY WADSWORTH. and John "Buck" Durrance back in January, 1942, and all got together here again this week for a reunion.

WADSWORTH was seriously wounded at Guadalcanal, sent back home and discharged. Durrance and Parker have been through a number of major battles without injury and are now home on leave.

Both wear the Pacific campaign bar with four stars and the Presidential citation with one star.

With the arrival of his former comrades in the Marine Corps, BRADY WADSWORTH has taken Pvt. Buck Durrance and Sgt. Holis Parker under his wing and is showing them the sights of Flagler and Volusia counties, which they have not seen for nearly three years, they having spent 30 months in the Pacific theater of war, and, with the exception of Brady, saw each other at varying times. Brady was wounded in 1942, sent back to the States and honorably discharged.

October 11, 1945

...... the following men perhaps well known to you - are now just plain Mister Civilian. They
have been given honorable discharges from Uncle Sam’s fighting forces .....

J. BRADY WADSWORTH