Vernon Brantley enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 19, serving as a Private First Class in the 289th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division. Initially intended for technical training, he was redirected to infantry and deployed to Europe in October 1944. As a jeep driver during the Battle of the Bulge, his dangerous duties included transporting the wounded and performing reconnaissance on treacherous roads. On January 5, 1945, his jeep was hit by a mortar shell, trapping him beneath the vehicle and causing shrapnel wounds and temporary paralysis. Amid the chaos, he was sent between medical facilities without an official record, leading to him being listed as "missing in action" for six weeks. Upon recovery, he returned to his unit to fight in Holland and Germany, assisting in the protection of a pontoon bridge across the Rhine River and capturing German soldiers at the Elbe River. After the war, he contributed to the reconstruction and occupation efforts. Reflecting on his service, Brantley humbly considered himself fortunate to have served alongside heroes.

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