This Military Service Page was created/owned by
LTC Bob Thompson
to remember
Bratton, Rufus, COL USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Date of Passing Mar 19, 1958
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He was the Chief, Far Eastern Section of the War Department Intelligence Branch (G-2) from early 1937 to July 1944.
He intercepted and encoded the top secret Japanese 14 - Part Message. This message told the Japanese Embassy to break off all diplomatic relations with the USA early on the morning of Sunday, December 7th, 1941. He briefed General George Marshall on the immediate implications of this message. By the time the warnings of this message reached Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor attack was already in progress.
WWII - American Theater
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
