By David Hedges, PUBLISHER

A Roane County native who became the most decorated woman in U.S. military history has passed away at a nursing facility in Kentucky.

Col. Ruby Bradley was 94.

A cousin, Jack Bradley of Spencer, said Col. Bradley suffered a heart attack on May 23 and died Tuesday night. Funeral arrangements were incomplete, although Col. Bradley is expected to be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington D.C.

Bradley, who was born on a farm outside Spencer on Dec. 19, 1907, taught four years in one-room schools in Roane County before she became an Army nurse.

She spent more than three years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II, where she assisted in over 200 major surgeries and delivered 13 American babies. She was also a combat nurse in the Korean conflict and served on the front lines. She was the Eighth Army?s chief nurse from 1950-53.

She earned numerous military awards and was the first woman ever to receive a national or international honor guard salute. She was also recognized by the International Red Cross with the Florence Nightingale medal for her outstanding service while a POW, along with several other civilian awards and honors.

She was recognized with a parade and other tributes during ?Ruby Bradley Day? in her hometown in September 1991.

Published May 30, 2002
THE TIMES RECORD