Rufus S. Bratton

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Colonel Rufus G. Bratton was Chief of Army and head of the War Department's G-2 (Intelligence Division) Far Eastern Section during World War II. A former West Pointer, Colonel Bratton was a language student in Japan and had attended the Japanese Imperial War College in 1932.

In the War Department, where a Japanese secret statement had been decoded, Colonel Bratton, discerned the message's significance, that the Japanese were planning a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. However, the intelligence chief told him nothing could be done until General Marshall arrived (only ten minutes drive away). Bratton tried reaching Marshall at home, yet was repeatedly told Marshall was out horseback riding. When Bratton did reach Marshall by phone, he told him of the emergency. Marshall then said he would come to the War Department. He took 75 minutes to arrive at the War Department. He didn't even come to his office until 11:25am. Bendetson said "I reported to Colonel Smith that I had been requested by General Short to convey a personal and important message to the Chief of Staff as soon as possible. He said, 'The Chief will want to see you, and he will soon be here, so instead of briefing yourself to me, you look a little tired, why don’t you go home, kiss your wife, freshen up and return here promptly. I will order a staff car for you to save time. The Chief left here about 8:30 for some exercise. He will have some incoming and outgoing messages to attend to; so be here by 10 a.m.'" Bendetson

He then perused the Japanese message and was shown the delivery time. Every officer in Marshall's office agreed that these indicated an attack in the Pacific at about 1 p.m. EST. The general ultimately agreed that Hawaii should be alerted though by then it was too late.

[edit] Fictional representation

In the film Tora! Tora! Tora! he was played by E.G. Marshall. The scene shows him being summoned by Naval Intelligence Lieutenant Commander Alvin D. Kramer, (played by Wesley Andy). The film shows Bratton reading a Japanese transcription, nicknamed "Magic", as it comes out of the description machine, codenamed "Purple. ==References==

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