CHARLES BRANUM

Charles C. "Sonny" Branum passed away at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau Jan. 14, 2001. He was 80 years old.

Charles was born Sept. 4, 1920, at Hornersville, Mo., son of Peter V. and Lora Lee Moody Branum. He and Mary Etta Crader of Chaffee, Mo., were united in marriage Aug. 27, 1948.

Charles was a 1938 graduate of Sikeston, Mo., High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University, and graduated from Texas A&M in 1950 with a natural gas and petroleum engineering degree.

He worked for the city of Sikeston, and in 1953 was employed with Texas Eastern Natural Gas Transmission Co. In 1960 he went to work for Missouri Utilities, later known as Union Electric. He retired as superintendent of gas and water in 1984.

Charles was a West Point Preparatory School candidate and a decorated World War II veteran attached to the 71st Infantry, 5th Intercepter Combat Unit in the Philippine Islands.

He was a defender of Bataan and Corregidor and as a prisoner of war was in the grueling Bataan Death March. He was a prisoner of war from April 1942 until his liberation in September 1945 at Camp O'Donald, Billibid, and Mukaishima, where he witnessed the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.

He was awarded two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star and six Purple Hearts. Sgt. Branum participated in the raising of the famous American Flag made from parachutes, as the first United States Flag flown in Japan at the conclusion of the war. The flag is on display at Fort Lee Hall of Flags in Virginia.

Charles was a life member of American Ex-Prisoners of War and Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Sikeston, Professional Engineers and Defender of Bataan and Corregidor. He had been active in Boy Scouts of America.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Etta, a son, Brad Branum, both of Cape Girardeau; four sisters, Imojean Arnold, Betty Jo Yeargain, Rachel Pierce and Juanita Alcorn, all of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by brothers Harry and Billy, and sisters Alma, Helen and Elzora.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with Dr. Derek Staples of Cape Girardeau and the Rev. Rick Lasley of Sikeston officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston, with military rites to be conducted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.