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Photo # NH 95607: Chief Gunner George Bradley after being presented with the Medal of Honor, 1923

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant George Bradley, USN, (1881-1942)

George Bradley was born on 5 December 1881 in New York, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Rhode Island in the early 1900s and served as a Chief Gunner's Mate in USS Utah during the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico in April 1914. When U.S. Naval Forces landed there and came under fire, Bradley led the ammunition party and special details. For his "meritorious service under fire," he was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bradley was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Gunner in February 1915. During the next two years he served in the armored cruiser Montana, which conducted training exercises along the East Coast during the first months of World War I. In the Summer of 1917, after reporting to the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, Bradley was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant. He reverted to Chief Gunner in August 1920 and was assigned to Destroyer Division 18, part of the Pacific Fleet. In 1922, he transferred to the Washington Navy Yard, in the District of Columbia. During his tour of duty there, Bradley was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge. In February 1928, he reported for sea duty on the destroyer Doyen and later served in USS Zane. Upon his retirement in October 1932, Bradley was again promoted to Lieutenant. George Bradley died on 9 June 1942 and is buried at St. Columbia's Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island.

This page features the only image we have concerning George Bradley.


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Photo #: NH 95607

Chief Gunner George Bradley, USN
(center)

With Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby (left) and Admiral Edward W. Eberle, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, at the White House, Washington, D.C., 4 October 1923, after he had been presented with the Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge.
The Medal was awarded "for meritorious service under fire" during the landings at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914. At that time Bradley was a Chief Gunner's Mate, serving in USS Utah (BB-31).

Donation of Mrs. C.L. Lehmann, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of Chief Gunner George Bradley, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 97):

"For meritorious service under fire on the occasion of the landing of the American naval forces at Vera Cruz in 1914. Chief Gunner Bradley was then attached to the U.S.S. Utah, as a chief gunner's mate, and was in charge of the ammunition party and special details at Vera Cruz."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 30 May 2006