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James Bradley
James Bradley will kick off the opening day with riveting, timeless themes of courage and overcoming obstacles. In a recent interview, Bradley indicated that his message will segue from the historical examples of supposedly insurmountable tasks where people said it could not be done, to everyday life and job challenges that people think cannot be done.
Bradley says his own book is a good example of “they said it couldn’t be done,” since 27 publishers over the course of 25 months refused to publish the book; yet, his book and the film of the same name have been critically acclaimed. His topic, while related to World War II (WW II), is really timeless and, he adds, “the messages are not in any time zone.”
Bradley recounted his mentors or inspirations during his life. He was fortunate to have a fantastic and inspirational coach at the University of Wisconsin. Bradley caddied for Vince Lombardi, the famous Green Bay Packers coach, and learned first-hand his attitude about winning. Bart Starr, the legendary Packers quarterback, was a neighbor and also a key figure while growing up in Wisconsin. Steven Ambrose, renowned historian and author, was a huge influence and friend.
All these famous names, as well as his quiet, unassuming father, framed his formative years that led to a career in travel, writing, speaking and researching.
In reference to his father, Bradley reveals that he and his mother heard next to nothing about his father’s mission or his actions related to Iwo Jima. In 47 years of marriage, his mother never knew of the world dignitaries such as Truman and the English royalty who met and talked with his dad.
The family wasn’t aware of the 400,000 people who participated in a Times Square parade in honor of the Iwo Jima victory and the statue dedication. Bradley relates that all his mother knew about Iwo Jima and his father, she learned from the book that her son researched and the many interviews with the living participants of that fateful battle.
When asked about the movie of the same name and his role, Bradley says that the scripting was based entirely on the book and he was consulted regularly. “But, frankly, nobody tells Clint Eastwood what to do.” Eastwood was meticulous about the details that were in the film, from the historical film footage used to the authenticity of the WW II armaments. The widely researched book and the landmark film based on it met with critical success in the United States.
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