1931-1953
I was the first born of three sons to Margaret Morrall Bridgers and Noel Guy Brown. Mom was an English graduate from Chicora College in Columbia. Dad had attended the University of Georgia in Athens.
Delivery was accomplished on June 20, 1931 with the help of Springfield, SC Doctor Paul Phillips. I selected the front bedroom of my grandparents (Cleo Bertia Fulmer and Charles Tucker Bridgers) home as it was the brightest and closest to all the action. There was an indoor bathroom and electricity but no refrigerator. That came later.
Springfield was a small town of about 1,000 population where everyone knew everyone else. No one ventured far from home and there weren't many visitors to the town. Perhaps the greatest attraction was the train tracks that ran right through the middle of it. The trains provided the townsfolk with lots to talk about in those days of no television. Papa Bridgers, the town's former Mayor and leading entrepreneur, owned a Ford dealership and a theater. It was all those free "flicks" that permitted me to live vicariously as a pilot and fueled my imagination in lots of other areas.
Within six months of my birth, Mom and I moved to Louisville, KY to join Dad who was a salesman for the American Tobacco Company. Dad traveled a lot but managed to earn a decent salary in those depression years. We lived in a nice apartment on Eastern Parkway across the street from St. Joe's Hospital.
When I was four we moved back to SC. From about the age of six, I developed a fascination for airplanes. I bought and built several model planes with money earned from chores. As military air activity increased just prior to WWII, I frequently scanned the skies to identify aircraft and dream of becoming a pilot.
My interest in flying increased as opportunities to be around planes and pilots grew. In 1941 we moved to Columbia, SC and lived just a few miles from Owen's Airfield. With my two brothers and parents we would often visit the airport to watch takeoffs and landings.
Substitutes for my passion for flying appeared early on. In 1945 at the age of 14, I had my bicycle converted to a motor bike by having a one and a half horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine mounted. Light traffic in those days made it relatively safe to ride most anywhere and I did. Top speed was about 25 miles an hour. Trips of over 45 miles were made to visit grandparents in Springfield and cousins in Denmark.
I sold the motorbike on March 28, 1947 and four days later purchased a "Whizzer" motor to mount on the handlebars of my bicycle. It was only a little better than the former set of wheels so it went after only five month of thrills. These and other vehicles helped satisfy my strong desire for freedom and independence.
At the age of 16, I had my first experience with borrowing money and it taught an important lesson; don't! I purchased a Cushman motor scooter and paid almost double the price of $264 in interest. Regardless, the scooter gave me the ability to carry a passenger, and that I did.
A Czech 125 cc motorcycle was the next step. The scooter was traded in on this brand new beauty in August, 1948. $390 was the purchase price. I remember Mother letting me have the Electrolux vacuum cleaner chrome extension to replace the mufflers. They fit perfectly and help make this midget of a motorcycle sound like a mighty dragon. Flying high!!
My social life at Dreher High School went up several notches as a result of this "real" motorcycle. Membership in DeMolay opened many opportunities for formal dances and parties.
To get even closer to my aviation heroes and their mighty steeds, I enlisted in the SC Air National Guard (Service # 25111702) in January 1949. The weekends spent at the base only whetted my appetite to fly. The Guard had my favorite fighter, the F-51 Mustang. One of my neighbors, Cal Moak, was shot down in Germany but lived to return and fly the Mustang for the Guard. My hero? You bet he was!
Graduation in 1949 was bitter sweet indeed. I would be parting company for the last time with many in our class of 152, most whom I had known for at least five years. Lots of friends and a steady girl were very important to me and I was about to expand the opportunities for both as I moved into college.
At the University of South Carolina, I participated in the many social and other activities of college life. Weekends became treasured time and duty out at Congaree Air Base began to interfere with more important things. I also needed the time to use our Gravely Tractor to plow yards and gardens to make money for my clothes and social life. On April 17, 1950 I resigned from the Guard and received an Honorable Discharge. Little did I know at the time that the unit would be called to active duty to go to Korea that summer.
With the war in Korea came renewed attention to the military. I followed in the footsteps of one of my close friends, Al Cox of Denmark, SC, and applied for pilot training in the U. S. Air Force. I was rejected because of a minor deficiency in color vision but that only made me more determined. In May of 1951 I joined the U. S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Program (Service # 1149529) and that July attended boot camp at Parris Island, SC. Travel to PI was in a newly acquired 1946 Crosley. I had rented a circular saw blade for my Gravely tractor and cut down a large tree for a neighbor in exchange for the Crosley. At the time, the Crosley Super Sport was known as a giant killer after winning the 1950 Sebring performance race. My Crosley was not the Super Sport model but it was my first car!
The training at PI was rough. With Drill Instructors who had served in WWII and Korea, we collegiate idiots were tested to the limits of our physical and mental abilities. Coming from a disciplined background I knew what it was but the dimensions of Marine discipline far exceeded anything I had ever experienced. A perfectionist by nature, I made every effort to surpass the high standards set by the DIs. For one of our inspections, I had spent hours spit shining my shoes. I nearly lost it that day as one of the platoon members accidentally stepped on the toe of one of my shoes. Because of the heightened pressures to be perfect I was ready to take on this clumsy idiot, but not this time, as the DIs were quick to recognize trouble and ease the tension.
Upon graduation from boot camp on August 21, 1951 I had earned that hallowed title "U. S. Marine". Nothing I have accomplished before or since has made me prouder. Only those who have earned that title can understand what it means. Having been trained and instilled with the "Esprit de Corps" I was now prepared to take on any enemy. "X" marks the newly minted warrior at the top row right side. Age 20, height 6'1" and 155 pounds wringing wet!
Corporal, USMCR was the rank I had while heading to Quantico, VA for my second six weeks of training. On June 12, 1952 I joined the 5th Training Battalion and was billeted in the barracks at Mainside. The rigors of the first summer were repeated but being an old salt made everything less intimidating. The Crosley was not fit to make such a long trip so it had been traded for a 1941 Plymouth convertible. With the top down, it was almost like flying.
My senior year at Carolina was the best of all. It was a year of hard academic work and lots of social activities enjoyed with my beloved Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers. Click here to see our members.
My major was accounting and I also liked law so one of my plans was to return someday and get a law degree along with a CPA certification. But for now, I looked forward to graduating and going on active duty. Just prior to receiving my degree on June 1, 1953 three of my fellow classmates and I were sworn into the Marine Corps as second lieutenants (Serial # 060531). The others were, left to right after me, James W. Chambers of TN, Harold D. Haviland of MD and Gene P. Robinson of IN.
Dressed in my new uniform, it was indeed a proud and happy moment when I stepped forward to receive my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.
A few short months of work in Columbia and then off to make my mark in the Corps! Basic School at Quantico was next.
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