Aviation Gunners Mate 3rd class, US Navy, captured on Chichi Jima Island (in the Bonin Islands Group) when his Avenger airplane was shot down on February 18, 1945 during World War II. Assigned to the carrier USS Bennington, he was on an Avenger crew with Ensign Bob King (pilot) and radioman James "Jimmy" Dye. Dye and York bailed out, and King managed to fly the plane (minus most of its left wing) back to the USS Bennington. On February 26, 1945, Grady was taken to the Chichi Jima rifle range, tied to a tree and used for bayonet practice by Japanese soldiers. While still alive, he was beheaded by Captain Masao Yamashita, who supervised the bayonet practice. His death and subsequent cannibalization was ordered by General Yoshio Tachibana. Parts of his body were removed and later served as food to high ranking Japanese officers, as part of the spirit warrior indoctrination (the Japanese Army on Chichi Jima had plenty of food). The day after Japan surrendered, on August 16, 1945, his body was dug up by the Japanese, cremated and the ashes thrown into the Pacific, to hide evidence of his death and cannibalization. General Tachibana, the Japanese officer who ordered his death and cannibalization, was tried for War Crimes in 1947, executed by hanging, and buried in an unmarked grave on the island of Guam (where the trial was held); Captain Yamashita, who beheaded him, spent several years in prison for his role. Grady was friendly and outgoing, and well liked by his fellow sailors. His life and death are described in the book, "Flyboys" by James Bradley.
Aviation Gunners Mate 3rd class, US Navy, captured on Chichi Jima Island (in the Bonin Islands Group) when his Avenger airplane was shot down on February 18, 1945 during World War II. Assigned to the carrier USS Bennington, he was on an Avenger crew with Ensign Bob King (pilot) and radioman James "Jimmy" Dye. Dye and York bailed out, and King managed to fly the plane (minus most of its left wing) back to the USS Bennington. On February 26, 1945, Grady was taken to the Chichi Jima rifle range, tied to a tree and used for bayonet practice by Japanese soldiers. While still alive, he was beheaded by Captain Masao Yamashita, who supervised the bayonet practice. His death and subsequent cannibalization was ordered by General Yoshio Tachibana. Parts of his body were removed and later served as food to high ranking Japanese officers, as part of the spirit warrior indoctrination (the Japanese Army on Chichi Jima had plenty of food). The day after Japan surrendered, on August 16, 1945, his body was dug up by the Japanese, cremated and the ashes thrown into the Pacific, to hide evidence of his death and cannibalization. General Tachibana, the Japanese officer who ordered his death and cannibalization, was tried for War Crimes in 1947, executed by hanging, and buried in an unmarked grave on the island of Guam (where the trial was held); Captain Yamashita, who beheaded him, spent several years in prison for his role. Grady was friendly and outgoing, and well liked by his fellow sailors. His life and death are described in the book, "Flyboys" by James Bradley.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Florida.
