Grady, William Richard 'Dick'

Date of birth:: May 30th, 1920 (El Paso/Texas, United States)
Date of death:: February 19th, 1943 (near Alameda/California, United States)
Buried on:: Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Plot: B. Grave: 250A.
Nationality:: American

Biography

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he was attending Texas A&M College and Cadet Corps. Grady left college for the Naval Reserve and attended Naval Flight Training at Pensacola, Florida. As a newly commissioned Ensign and aviator, he was assigned to the East Coast and to the Aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger. He later received orders to San Diego and boarded the U.S.S. Enterprise, bound for the Pacific. Grady participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomon Islands in August 24th/25th, 1942 with Task Force 61.

Back from overseas, Grady was ferrying another officer when his plane crashed into Oakland Bay after leaving Alameda Naval Station on February 19th, 1943. He was buried at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso Texas.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Ensign
Unit:: Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3), U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: January 30th, 1943

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), attached to the U.S.S. SARATOGA (CV-3), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Campaign on 24 August 1942. Participating in a vigorous and determined aerial torpedo raid against a Japanese Task Force, Ensign Grady, pressing home his attack through a bursting hail of fire from hostile anti-aircraft batteries and fighter planes, contributed to the relentless fighting spirit and aggressive courage which enabled his group to score one certain hit and two estimated hits on an enemy aircraft carrier. His superb airmanship and unyielding devotion to duty aided greatly in the defeat of the Task Force and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."