Col. Andrew Jackson (Jack) Bratton Jr. and Frances Lucille (Cille) Lassiter
Husband Col. Andrew Jackson (Jack) Bratton Jr. [26212]
Born: 5 Mar 1920 - Union City, Obion County, TN Christened: Died: 9 May 2006 - Rockport, Aransas County, TX Buried: - Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Father: Andrew Jackson (Jack) Bratton [26211] (1897-1964) Mother: Annie Ruth (Boo) Moore [26210] (1898-1990)
Marriage: 1969 - [MRIN:8774]
Other Spouse: Nancy Abbott [26213] ( - ) - 1941 [MRIN:8771]
Wife Frances Lucille (Cille) Lassiter [26219]
Born: 15 Jan 1921 - Trenton, Gibson County, TN Christened: Died: 30 Aug 2014 - Marble Falls, Burnet County, TX Buried: - Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Children
General Notes: Husband - Col. Andrew Jackson (Jack) Bratton Jr.
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Birth: Mar. 5, 1920
Union City
Obion County
Tennessee, USA
Death: May 9, 2006
Rockport
Aransas County
Texas, USA
Archives
Obituaries for May 17, 2006
BRATTON, JR.
Col. Jack Bratton passed away on May 9, 2006. He was born in Union City, Tennessee, on March 5, 1920, the son of Andrew Jackson (Pa) Bratton and Annie Ruth Moore (Boo) Bratton. Along with his sister, the late Jane Bratton Kallenberg, he grew up on the Bratton farm west of Union City. His grandfather, Sam Bratton, a prominent Tennessee lawman, politician and landowner, was an important influence on Jack's early life. Jack attended Union City schools and Murray State Teachers College in Kentucky, where he was an outstanding football player.
He was a member of Company K, Tennessee National Guard when he entered Army Air Corps pilot training in 1940. This commenced a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, which saw military aviation grow from fabric-covered bi-planes with open cockpits to supersonic jet aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear weapons. In 1941, Col. Bratton married the late Nancy Abbott Bratton with whom he had two children. Son, Andy Bratton of Plano, Texas, served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war, and is now retired from the computer business. Daughter, Ann George is a career educator in Escondido, California, and the mother of Jack's grandson, Dave Goss.
During World War II, Jack was assigned to the 5th Air Force in Australia and New Guinea. He flew B-24 heavy bombers against enemy targets in the South Pacific. He became one of the youngest Squadron Commanders in the Army Air Corps in 1943. For his actions during a single-plane mission against heavily defended Japanese positions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Following World War II, Jack served as Director of Training in B-24s and B-29s at various bases before being assigned to the Pentagon as a Deputy Chief of Technical Training in 1947. He completed the Air Command and Staff College in 1950. As one of the first officers to check out in the B-47, the Air Force's first jet bomber, he served as a Group Commander. He then served as Deputy Base Commander, Goose AFB, Labrador, supporting Strategic Air Command and Air Defense Command missions in the early stages of the Cold War.
Col. Bratton returned to B-47s in 1955 as a Deputy Wing Commander and Base Commander at Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana. In one of his most challenging assignments, Col. Bratton served as Wing Commander of SAC's famed 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He commanded the wing and flew the U-2, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft designed to gather intelligence. The wing's accomplishments are cited as extremely instrumental in resolving the Cuban missile crisis.
Jack then served on the staff of the Commanding General, 2nd Air Force, at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. His positions included Director of Material and Inspector General for 2nd AF. In his final assignment, he commanded the 379th Bomb Wing, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, flying B-52s. The 379th earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. At his retirement he was awarded the Legion of Merit and became only the fifth officer to receive the coveted Strategic Air Command Award. He was a command pilot with over 6000 flight hours. In 1969, Jack married Lucille Lassiter Burdick Bratton who survives him at Air Force Village, San Antonio, Texas, along with his stepson Clem Burdick of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and stepdaughter Becky McLaughlin of Marble Falls, Texas. They lived in Marble Falls, Blanco, and Rockport, Texas, while traveling extensively in their motor home. They have fond memories of trips in the continental US, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico.
During their retirement they maintained contact with many Air Force friends and developed many new friendships. They have particularly enjoyed their extended families including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jack had a lifelong interest in agriculture and was managing family farms in Tennessee at the time of death. He also retained strong bonds to West Tennessee, continuing to visit there all his life. Col. Bratton enjoyed travel, current events, hunting, and fishing. He was active in Masonry as a Shriner, and also enjoyed being a Jester. Jack was a life member of the American Legion, a Rotarian, and a Toastmaster. He was a Christian who supported his home church in Union City, Tennessee, and was a member of the High Flight Chapel congregation at Air Force Village.
Reverend Al Hockaday officiated. There was a private interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a remembrance to the Air Force Village Development, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78245-3535, or to a charity of choice.
Family links:
Parents:
Andrew Jackson Bratton (1897 - 1964)
Annie Ruth Moore Bratton (1898 - 1990)
Spouse:
Lucille Lassiter Bratton (1921 - 2014)*
Sibling:
Andrew Jackson Bratton (1920 - 2006)
Jane Winnifred Bratton Kallenberg (1921 - 2006)*
*Calculated relationship
Note: Col, US Air Force, WW II, Korea, Vietnam
Burial:
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio
Bexar County
Texas, USA
Plot: Section CGG Site 8
Created by: Sandra Tyler Duncan
Record added: May 20, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 14341886
General Notes: Wife - Frances Lucille (Cille) Lassiter
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Birth: Jan. 15, 1921
Trenton
Gibson County
Tennessee, USA
Death: Aug. 30, 2014
Marble Falls
Burnet County
Texas, USA
Frances Lucille “Cille” Bratton, 93, passed away very peacefully Saturday evening, August 30, 2014 at Granite Mesa Health Center in Marble Falls, Texas. She was properly prepared for her exciting new journey to heaven with her hair and nails done, lipstick on, a twinkle in her eye, and the love of God in her heart.
She was born on January 15, 1921 at Trenton, Tennessee. She was the only child of James William and Verna Mae (Fumbanks) Lassiter. Her father was an accountant while her mother was a public school teacher.
She married John Clement Burdick, Jr. in 1941 and for the next thirty years, she was co-owner and operator of the J. C. Burdick Insurance Agency in Union City, Tennessee. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Union City and will be remembered for her many years of leadership with the Girl Scouts. She set a high standard for a Life Well Lived that she imparted to her children, her extended family and their many friends which will continue to endure in all of our lives and those of our children who follow.
In the early 1970s she married USAF (Ret.) Colonel Andrew Jack Bratton, Jr. and they moved to the Texas Hill Country. They enjoyed many friends and adventures while motor camping throughout the west, then living at Marble Falls, Blanco, and Rockport, TX followed by Air Force Village II in San Antonio, TX.
Cille looked at life through the eyes of an artist - sharing her experiences through painting and ceramics. She delighted in ALL the beauty that the world had to offer – life’s color wheel, birds soaring, and clouds billowing. She freely shared with others her joy and upbeat attitude that we all remember with her ever present smile, apple cheeks and sparkle in her eye. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, USAF (Ret.) Col. Jack Bratton.
She always considered her family to be her most precious treasures. She is survived by a son and daughter, a step-son and step-daughter, five grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren living across Tennessee, Texas and California, as well as close family cousins, Sandra and David Watson and Barbara Wilbur of Clarksville, Tennessee.
Her ashes will be interred at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX beside her husband, Jack Bratton. According to her instructions, she did not wish to have a formal funeral service, but each of her family and friends who loved her deeply can have our own memorial service in our hearts as WE REMEMBER HER. Of course, we can talk to her at any time and she will reply so that we can hear her in our hearts. And if we wish, we can make a donation to the charity of our choice in her memory.
Family links:
Parents:
James William Lassiter (1889 - 1954)
Verna Mae Fumbanks Lassiter (1893 - 1981)
Spouse:
Andrew Jackson Bratton (1920 - 2006)
Inscription:
Peace Is Our
Profession
Burial:
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio
Bexar County
Texas, USA
Plot: Section CGG Site 8
Maintained by: B McLaughlin
Originally Created by: Frank Pennington
Record added: Sep 03, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 135351513
Notes: Marriage
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