Tribute to Ed Broadhurst, of Smithfield, NC

Tribute to Ed Broadhurst, of Smithfield, NC, from Marvin E Taylor Jr., of Raleigh, NC
On graduation from West Point in 1937, Ed Broadhurst, a native of Smithfield, NC, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Turning his attention to flying, he gained entry to flight school and received his wings in January, 1939, just days after the unexpected death of his father. Broadhurst was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group (three squadrons of B-17 Flying Fortresses) as the Group moved to March Field near Los Angeles and Hollywood, California. Just the ticket for a young bachelor fly boy. In letters beginning in late October, 1941, Captain Broadhurst described an island-hopping flight of B-17s crossing the Pacific to the Philippines. The 19th found itself at Clark and Del Monte Fields on December 8, 1941 (December 7th in Hawaii), when the Japanese launched a delayed attack on the Philippines. In an interview in 1945, then 29-year old Colonel Broadhurst described his experiences on America's first day at war. It began with plans for a photo recon mission over Formosa (Taiwan) by three B-17s to be led by Broadhurst. "At the end of the day", Broadhurst had barely escaped injury in the first wave of Japanese air attacks and was handed the keys to his B-17 by the crew chief as he informed the young pilot that the keys were all that was left. He did learn that his crew, one of whom fired at the attacking aircraft from the bomber's turret gun until the last moment, had survived. The 19th moved quickly to Del Monte Field in the southern Philippines. The first aircraft on which Broadhurst was offered a ride to Del Monte was delayed, so he caught a ride on a second aircraft. The first plane, which left without Broadhurst, was never seen again. The 19th left Del Monte and moved to Darwin, Australia and then to Java. In early March, 1942, the Japanese landed on Java, forcing the 19th to flee the island. Broadhurst and eight other flyers flew out of Java on what newspaper accounts described as the "last plane to leave Java". Broadhurst flew twenty combat missions and was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart. In September, 1942, Major Broadhurst returned to the United States. He found time to court and marry Viola Seubert of Cottonwood, Idaho. They raised three children--Ed, Mary Ann and Barbara. Broadhurst remained in the military after the war. At the time of his death, on April 4, 1965, he had attained the rank of Lieutenant General. He is buried in Smithfield's Riverside Cemetery. An excerpt from General Hamilton Howze's eulogy reflects both Broadhurst's character and style of leadership:

"It is hard to say goodbye to a man whose every action is guided by the profoundest sense of honor and duty, who sought only the wisest and strongest and yet somehow the most considerate and gentlest solution in every problem that confronted him."

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