Don-Michael Bradford

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23: 1-6

Dr. Don-Michael Bradford (Colonel, US Air Force – Retired), age 77, of New Boston, Texas passed away peacefully July 22, 2025 at home surrounded by loved ones. He was born July 20, 1948, in Graham, Texas, the son of Major Leo G. Bradford, USAF, who was in Germany flying the Berlin Airlift, and Elizabeth Bradford, who was carrying twin sons and returned home so that, according to his father, “My sons would be born in Texas.”

When Don-Michael was eight years old, his parents were sent to Japan, where he and his brother and two sisters were raised. He graduated from Gakko Hojiin-The American School in Japan in 1966.

Then back to the states, Don-Michael attended and graduated from Texas State University in 1970, then enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves. In 1972 he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant and entered into the Air Force’s Civil Engineering field.

Climbing the ranks quickly, he was later promoted to Colonel (COL) and went on to command the 18th Civil Engineering Group at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, the largest civil engineering unit in the Air Force. He was the first commander who was fluent in Japanese and could address his more than 3,000 native workforce in their own language.

COL Bradford was a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, the Air War College, and as a National Defense Fellow, he taught in Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Conversant in many languages, serving in several nations as an advisor on military base construction, he became a convert to the Orthodox Church and served in several capacities wherever there was a Church.

Medically retired from the Air Force in 1999, he moved from Hawaii to Seattle, Washington and lived with his wife, Shawna. In retirement, Don-Michael continued to keep his mind and belly fed. A world traveler, he was an avid reader of history, geography and a constant student of literature and the arts. He loved international and domestic delicacies and was an avid wine and scotch collector and always shared such ‘nectar of the gods’ as he would put it, to all that entered his home. His daughter, Michelle, deemed him ‘the most interesting man in the world’ as he held a reservoir of stories and languages and insights that allowed him to connect with everyone he met.

Don- Michael ‘‘retired’ again moving from Seattle Washington to New Boston, Texas. Now a ‘rancher of sorts’, made sure he had plenty of porch to kick his boots up and room for his beloved dachshund, Marlene to roam and play.

Colonel Don-Michael Bradford (USAF-Ret.) is survived by his wife, Shawna So, his three children, Michael, Michelle and Matthew as well as his identical twin brother David Bradford, and sister, Dana Bradford. He was a loving husband, father, brother, son-in-law and friend to everyone. He had a quick wit, and showed words of encouragement and support to anyone he met and will be genuinely missed.

上校、唐–麥可·布拉德福德博士（Don-Michael Bradford），美國空軍退役，享年七十七歲，於2025年7月22日，在德州新波士頓的家中，在摯愛親人的陪伴下安詳辭世。

他於1948年7月20日出生於德州葛拉罕，為美國空軍少校李奧·G·布拉德福德之子（當時正在德國參與柏林空運），以及伊麗莎白·布拉德福德之子。伊麗莎白當時懷有雙胞胎，依父親之言，特地返鄉，使得「我的兒子們在德州出生。」

當唐八歲時，父母被派往日本，他與兄弟及兩位姊妹皆在日本成長。1966年，唐–麥可畢業於日本的學校法人美國學校（Gakko Hojiin-The American School in Japan）。

之後回到美國，他進入德州州立大學就讀並於1970年畢業，同年加入美國空軍後備役。1972年，他獲任少尉軍官，進入空軍土木工程部門。

隨著軍階晉升，他最終榮升上校，並被任命為沖繩嘉手納空軍基地第18土木工程大隊指揮官，該部隊是空軍規模最大的土木工程單位。他是第一位能以日語與三千多名當地員工溝通的指揮官。

布拉德福德上校畢業於聯合部隊參謀學院與空軍戰爭學院，並曾以國防研究員身分，在喬治城大學外交學院任教。他精通多國語言，曾以顧問身分在多個國家參與軍事基地建設，並在信仰上皈依東正教，於各地教會中皆積極服事。

1999年，他因醫療原因退役，從夏威夷遷居華盛頓州西雅圖，與妻子邵娜·蘇文鳳

同住。

退休後，唐仍保持思想與生活的豐富滋養。作為世界旅行者，他熱愛閱讀歷史、地理，並持續鑽研文學與藝術。他嗜愛各國與本地美食，亦是葡萄酒與蘇格蘭威士忌的收藏家，並常以他所謂的「神的甘露」與來訪之人分享。他的女兒稱他為「世界上最有趣的男人」，因為他蘊藏無數故事、語言與見解，總能與每一位相遇的人建立連結。

後來，唐再次「退休」，從西雅圖搬回德州新波士頓，與妻子邵娜購置了一處大型牧場宅邸，並與兄弟姊妹共享家園，使家人得以親近。他搖身一變成為「半個牧場主」，確保自家有足夠的門廊讓他能抬起靴子休憩，並讓他心愛的臘腸犬瑪琳能自在奔跑嬉戲。

唐是一位慈愛的丈夫、父親、兄弟、女婿與朋友。他機智幽默，總是向身邊的人給予鼓勵與支持，將被人真心懷念。

布拉德福德上校遺留下妻子蘇文鳳·、三名子女──麥可、蜜雪兒與馬修。他的同卵雙胞胎兄弟大衛·布拉德福德，以及姊妹戴娜·布拉德福德，也仍在世。