Willis W. Bradley
| Willis Winter Bradley, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 
Commander Willis W. Bradley, photographed during the 1920s, wearing the Medal of Honor
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| Born |
June 28, 1884 Ransomville, New York |
| Died | August 27, 1954 (aged 70) Santa Barbara, California |
| Place of burial | Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1906–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | USS Pittsburgh |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Relations | Bruce McCandless (son-in-law) |
| Other work | politician |
Willis Winter Bradley Jr. (June 28, 1884 – August 27, 1954) was a Naval officer, a recipient of the Medal of Honor and a U.S. Representative from California.
Born in Ransomville, New York, Bradley moved with his parents to Milnor, North Dakota, in July 1884 and to Forman, North Dakota, in 1891. He attended the public schools, and Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota. He served as the deputy registrant of deeds of Sargent County, North Dakota in 1902 and 1903.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy on September 12, 1906 and went to sea in USS Virginia (BB-13). After two years at sea as a passed midshipman, he received his commission as an ensign on September 13, 1908. Successively, Bradley served in USS Culgoa (AF-3) from the fall of 1908 to October 1910, helped to fit out and commission USS Perkins (DD-26) (Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 26), and served in her until March 1911. From then until September 1912, he saw duty, first in the transport USS Hancock and then in USS South Carolina. Next, he commanded USS Biddle (TB-26) (Torpedo Boat No. 26) and the Reserve Torpedo Group at Annapolis, Md.
Beginning in September 1913, Bradley studied ordnance and explosives at the Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis, Maryland, and then at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He continued his studies at the Naval Proving Ground in Indian Head, Maryland, at Bausch & Lomb, and at the Midvale Steel Co. in Pittsburgh, Pa. In July 1915, Bradley returned to sea in command of USS Stewart. That December, he was transferred to command of USS Hull and of the Reserve Torpedo Division, Pacific Fleet.
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