Calvin Graham
| Calvin Leon Graham | |
|---|---|
Seaman First Class Calvin Graham in 1942
|
|
| Born |
April 3, 1930 Canton, Texas |
| Died | November 6, 1992 (aged 62) Fort Worth, Texas |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
United States Navy United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1943 1948–1951 |
| Rank |
Seaman First Class – USN Corporal – USMC |
| Unit | USS South Dakota |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" Purple Heart Medal |
Calvin Leon Graham (April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy from Houston, Texas on August 15, 1942, at the age of 12. His case was similar to that of Jack W. Hill, who was granted significant media attention due to holding service number one million during World War II, but later was discovered to have lied about his age and subsequently discharged.
Graham was born in Canton, Texas and was attending elementary school in Houston before he decided to join the Navy, after his father had died and his mother had remarried.
He enlisted in the Navy on August 15, 1942 and was sent to boot camp in San Diego, California for six weeks, and afterwards was sent to Pearl Harbor at Oahu, Hawaii where he was assigned to USS South Dakota in September.
The South Dakota left Pearl Harbor on October 16. On October 26, 1942, he participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz. The South Dakota and her crew received a Navy Unit Commendation for the action. On the night of November 14–15, 1942, Graham was wounded during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, he served as a loader for a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun and was hit by shrapnel while taking a hand message to an officer. Though he received fragmentation wounds, he helped in rescue duty by aiding and pulling the wounded aboard ship to safety. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal, and he and his crewmates were awarded another Navy Unit Commendation.
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