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Emerson Virgil Bratcher was born August 18, 1910 in Rockport, Kentucky. He was the oldest child of Eddie James Bratcher and Dora Bishop Bratcher. His sister Bea was born in 1911, and his brother Neal was born in 1917. Emerson graduated from the old Rockport High School, on Bluff Street, in 1929. The 1929 Class consisted of Emerson, Rosa Mae Cummins, and Cletus Wilson. The 1926 Class was the first four year high school class to graduate. Prior to 1926 the school was only a two-year high school.

On October 4, 1930, Emerson married Margaret Ellen Rule in Nelson, Muhlenberg County, KY. There was one son from this marriage. Collen Dale Bratcher was born on January 10, 1932 in Rockport, Kentucky. Dale married Alice Ramer Rice on August 15, 1959.

I am not sure if Emerson was drafted or if he joined the Navy. Never the less, his basic training was probably at Great Lakes Naval Station and from there he was sent to school to be a Metalsmith. On July 31, 1944, and after graduating from Metalsmith School, Emerson was assigned to the USS Croatan CVE 29. The CVE 29, at the time was classified as an Escort Carrier that had been commissioned only a few years earlier. Emerson served on the Croatan for most of his Naval career and was discharged on November 23, 1945.

After being honorably discharged, Emerson returned to Rockport, KY. With a wife and a teenage son, Virgil, like others before him went north to find work. He settled in Louisville to raise his family. Emerson's wife, Margaret died in Louisville on April 29, 1989. Emerson died on January 7, 1998. Both are buried in Louisville.

Thanks Virgil, for your service to the war effort.