World War II Honoree

George Francis Grady

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

John Peterson

HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON GAVUTU, SOLOMON ISLANDS, 7 AUGUST, 1942. ALTHOUGH AWARE THAT HIS WEAPON WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, HE RUSHED THREE OF THE ENEMY WHO WERE FIRING ON HIS SQUAD, ENGAGED THEM IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT, AND SUCCEEDED IN OVERPOWERING TWO OF THEM BEFORE HE HIMSELF WAS KILLED. FOR HIS COURAGE AND SELF-SACRIFICE, HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS. USS GRADY DE-445 WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.