Graddy, William Bryant died 1944

GRADDY, LARSON, FINN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 2/3/2024 at 11:56:02

Clayton County Register, 04 Jan. 1945.

William Bryant Graddy, junior radioman 1/c, U.S.N.R., has been killed in action, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Mary Carolyn Graddy, last Friday. The message received from the Navy department read as follows.

"The Navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your husband, William Bryant Graddy, junior radioman 1/c, U.S.N.R., was killed in action while in the service of his country. The department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. No information available at present in regard to disposition of remains but by reason of existing conditions burial at sea or in locality of death highly probably. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.

Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs,
Chief of Naval Personnel."

The young sailor was the son of Mrs. L. E. Larson of St. Olaf and was born Feb. 06, 1942 (An obvious newspaper error with regard to the birth year given.) at Orlando, Fla. He came to Iowa in 1940 and attended Elkader high school. In 1941 he enlisted in the Navy, receiving his basic training at Great Lakes. He attended radio school in Indianapolis and was (next four words blurred), Calif., for nine months. He was on a destroyer in the Atlantic for two years and had been on duty in the Pacific since Sept. 21, 1944.

He was married March 15, 1944, to the former Mary Carolyn Finn of Monroe, Mich., who is making her home with the Larsons at St. Olaf.

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Note: Initial burial in U.S.Air Force cemetery, Leyte, Philippines. Remains returned to U.S. and reinterred Arlington Nat'l cemetery 9/9/1948