DOB/DOD: May 8, 1922 (Waterbury, CT) – February 24, 1945; 22 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Charles Street, Waterbury
ENLISTMENT: October 20, 1942, in New York City.
SERVICE NUMBER: 473477
UNIT: Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0745, Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to Felix (1899-1972), born in Naples, Italy, and Fannie Bredice (1898-1949). One brother, Michael (1918-1973). 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp and advanced training at Camp Lejeune. In July 1944, he was assigned to the 61st Replacement Battalion, and finally the 3rd Marine Division, 23rd Marines, 2nd Battalion in January 1945. 6 Died from multiple wounds from a grenade. 5
OTHER: James Bredice attended Manual Training High School. He led Brooklyn Division 2, PSAL high school basketball in scoring in 1939. In the summer of 1941, he was invited to a workout at Ebbets Field with the Brooklyn Dodgers Minor League Baseball Clubs.
From The New York Daily News April 22, 1945
Fighting on Iwo Jima Island, Private James M. Bredice, 22, was killed in action on February 24th while serving with the 3rd Marine Division. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bredice, of 151 11th Street, Brooklyn, have been informed. A veteran of the Guam invasion, Bredice enlisted in the Marines in October 1942. He was a graduate of Manual Training High School in Brooklyn. Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Michael, who recently received an honorable discharge after almost four years in the Army.
From The Brooklyn Eagle, April 27, 1945
Private First Class James M. Bredice, a Marine veteran of the Guam invasion, was killed on February 24 at Iwo Jima. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bredice of 151 11th Street and a graduate of Manual Training High School, where he starred in football and baseball. Born 22 years ago in Waterbury, Connecticut, he was brought as an infant to Brooklyn, where he lived until he enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 20, 1942. Also surviving is a brother, former Sergeant Michael Bredice, who was honorably discharged after serving three and one-half years with the Marines in the Pacific. A solemn requiem mass will be offered at 8 a.m. tomorrow in St. Thomas Aquinas R.C. Church, 4th Avenue, and 9th Street.
Initially buried in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 5, Grave 125. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried on April 7, 1948, in Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Avenue, East Farmingdale, New York; Section H, Grave 7972. 6PFC Bredice’s brother, Michael, was also buried in Long Island National Cemetery; Section H, Grave 7960-A. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – https://marines.togetherweserved.com
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81894329/james-michael-bredice
4 – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2623101/michael-p-bredice
5 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
6 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/