Commander Willis Winter Bradley Jr., a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 23, 1917 aboard U.S.S. Pittsburgh at Sea during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pittsburgh. Bradley was 33 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 1, 1928, 10 years after the action — the White House, presented by Pres. Calvin Coolidge. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Bradley was born on June 28, 1884 in Ransomville, Niagara County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to North Dakota. Bradley died on August 27, 1954 in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 70. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Bradley is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 19 credited to North Dakota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. Pittsburgh, at the time of an accidental explosion of ammunition on that vessel. On 23 July 1917, some saluting cartridge cases were being reloaded in the after casemate: through an accident an explosion occurred. Comdr. Bradley (then lieutenant), who was about to enter the casemate, was blown back by the explosion and rendered momentarily unconscious, but while still dazed, crawled into the casemate to extinguish burning materials in dangerous proximity to a considerable amount of powder, thus preventing further explosions.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: United States representative; member of the California State Assembly; Governor of Guam
- Occupations: politician
- Education: Hamline University, Naval Postgraduate School, United States Naval Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Dakota →
Timeline
- June 28, 1884Born in Ransomville, Niagara County, New York
- July 23, 1917Act of valor — U.S.S. Pittsburgh at SeaAge 33. U.S.S. Pittsburgh
- May 1, 1928Medal of Honor presentedThe White House, presented by Pres. Calvin Coolidge
- August 27, 1954Died in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaAge 70.
- Resting placeFort Rosecrans National CemeterySan Diego, California
Biography
Willis Winter Bradley Jr. (June 28, 1884 – August 27, 1954) was a mid-20th-century American Naval officer, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, Naval Governor of Guam, and a U.S. Representative from California.
From the Wikipedia article “Willis W. Bradley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →