Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
On January 3, 1944, his 18th birthday, Hearn registered for the draft in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee. He was noted as 6 ft tall, 140 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes.
One month after graduating from Sewanee, Hearn entered the Navy in July 1944. He was sent for basic training to Camp Peary, VA - formerly a SEABEE training facility. In June 1944 Camp Perry was renamed the US Naval Training and Distribution Center and was a recruit training command.
After basic training Hearn attended a signalman training school. The location is unknown.
In his obituary, his parents stated that their son first went aboard USS Indianapolis at Guam. This is verified in the Records of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Advance Detachment, Commander Fifth Fleet which shows Hearn departed Pearl Harbor and arrived June 12, 1945.
Apra Harbor, Guam, was the Advance Fleet Headquarters of CINCPAC, ADM Chester Nimitz. In addition to other locations, Admiral Raymond Spruance maintained a shore office there and was present when Hearn arrived. Spruance planned to remain there and meet Indianapolis at a later date.
Hearn had been assigned to the flag allowance of Admiral Spruance and was transferred to Indianapolis 27 July 1945 “for temporary duty."
Indianapolis had arrived that day in Apra Harbor after delivering her top secret cargo the day before at Tinian. Indy was scheduled to leave the harbor early the next morning.
Fifteen members of Spruance’s Flag staff disembarked Indianapolis at Guam. Only four remained on board: LCDR Cedric Foster Coleman, commander of the flag allowance, Robert Craig Barker, Jr., RT1c, Arno John Telford, RT3c, and Ray Gunther Wenzel.
One other new new crewmember went aboard with Hearn - Pat Leon Adams, S2c.
The Ship Log Report of Changes of July 28, 1945 record Hearn and Pat Leon Adams on board Indianapolis as two of the 1195 crew who sailed out of Apra Harbor, Guam at 9:10 a.m. for Leyte via Route Peddie.
Why Hearn and Pat Leon Adams were selected over the other available signalmen at Guam is unknown. Although Hearn and Pat had completed training as a Signalman, practical training on board a ship, further training and testing was required before they would be advanced from the rate of S2 to S1c then to SM3c. This was likely an opportunity for both to gain their first on board training.
Hearn and Pat Leon Adams were the last two men to ever board Indianapolis.
In less than 72 hours, all six members of the Flag Allowance would be lost at sea when Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58.
Their names are inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. All were awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
During their lifetime, Hearn’s parents sought to remember and honor their only son. They placed a Cenotaph in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Franklin, Davidson County, TN.
On October 31, 1945, a dedication service was held in memory of the students of Sewanee Military Academy who were killed in World War II. Dr. and Mrs. Bradley presented a bronze plaque to the Academy for display in the academy chapel :
Academy Honors
World War II Dead
By JOHN G. BRATTON
A service of dedication in memory of the students of Sewanee Military Academy killed in World War II was held in the academy chapel on October 31. Chaplain E. M. Bearden opened the service with prayers preparatory to the acceptance of a plaque presented by the parents of William Hearn Bradley, '44, killed in action in the Philippine Sea.
Dr. Guerry accepted the impressive bronze plaque, which contains the names of the fifty-three alumni who made the supreme sacrifice, from Gen. George R. Allin, superintendent of the academy. In his acceptance, Dr. Guerry stated his feeling , of infinite pride "because of the heroism and unselfishness of the gallant young men from this school who were willing to die and S"rne of whom did die in battle to defend our country and her allies and the eternal ideals of civilization.
"This will ever be a reminder to us of those who by their example have taught us to love justice and honor, freedom and truth more than life itself."
Dr. Guerry then introduced the Rt. Rev. Thomas N. Carruthers, Bishop of South Carolina, the principal speaker of the occasion. Bishop Carruthers expressed hope for the everlasting perpetuation of the ideals for which our service men fought and gave their lives, and for the growth of a spirit of brotherhood necessary for peace
among the nations of the world.
Immediately following Bishop Carruthers address, the Alma Mater was sung by the Corps of Cadets and faculty, graduates and residents of the mountain in attendance. The dedication of the memorial plaque and benediction was made by the Chancellor of the University, the Rt. Rev. Frank A. Juhan, Bishop of Florida.
The following message was written on a Post Card that was sent and dated December 27, 1946 to Dick Thelen (and shared by Barbara Thelen):
Dear Sir,
Our only child William Bradley, aged 19, S2/c, signalman striker on Adm. Spruance’s staff went aboard the INDIANAPOLIS at Guam on July 28th. If you know him or anything about him please let me know.
Most Sincerely,
Hearn Bradley M.D.
706 Church St
Nashville, Tenn
Note that the post card was dated 17 months after their son's passing. The family was still searching for closure to the tragedy that beset William.
In the early 1980s, Jane Henry, widow of Lt. Commander Earl Henry, the dentist aboard USS Indianapolis CA 35, who died in the sinking, had a chance meeting in Nashville, TN while in the dental office of Dr. Roy Elam, Sr. Dr. and Mrs. Bradley were there.
Jane described the meeting to her son Earl, Jr. as “very emotional.” The Bradley’s were stunned at meeting a widow of the Indianapolis tragedy. Words did not flow easily; tears and anger did. The Bradley’s expressed anger at Captain McVay and President Harry Truman and blamed them for their son’s death.
Hearn’s parents died nine days apart in April 1989. Dr. Granderson Hearn Bradley was a longtime donor to Sewanee. His largest donation was bequeathed in his will. In 1991 his gift of approximately $300,000 was made to honor his son.
