Broadus Eudy was born on Dec. 11, 1921, and grew up in Albemarle. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to a submarine chaser known as the SC-1321. The ship served off the coast of New Jersey until February 1944, when it was transported to Europe to prepare for the D-Day invasion.

After the Normandy beaches were secured, the SC-1321 was given the task of transporting the Army and Navy leadership on a tour of the coast. Some of the leaders on board included Adm. Ernest King, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Gen. H.H. Arnold, Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, Rear Adm. A.G. Kirk and Gen. George Marshall.

According to a Stanly News & Press article, Broadus Eudy was quoted as saying, “I think our greatest job in the invasion was taking the big generals and admirals on their tour.” One of his shipmates said “It was really an honor having some of the highest ranking officers in the Army and Navy aboard for a tour. We were a bit scared of them at first, but that soon went away as they made us feel at ease.”

Eudy continued to serve in the Navy until 1946.

Later in life, he was owner of the Broadus Eudy Plumbing Company in Albemarle until he passed away on May 6, 2010.

{Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}