610:
603:
110:
83:
587:
571:
537:
580:
546:
100:
596:
510:
203:
504:
521:
565:
558:
531:
217:
147:
137:
715:
448:
signed legislation that granted Graham full disability benefits, increased his back pay to $ 4,917 and allowed him $ 18,000 for past medical bills, contingent on receipts for the medical services. By this time, some of the doctors who treated him had died and many medical bills were lost. He received
364:
on
December 18, 1942, for an overhaul and battle damage repairs (she had taken 42 hits from at least three enemy ships) in New York City, and since then, was named "Battleship X" in order to make the Japanese think she had been sunk. Graham's mother revealed his age after he traveled to his
1092:
369:. He was released after his sister threatened to contact the newspapers. Although he had tried to return to his ship, he was discharged from the Navy on April 1, 1943, and his awards were revoked. The
1107:
383:
He then worked in a
Houston shipyard as a welder after dropping out of school. At age 14 he married and became a father the following year. At age 17 he was divorced when he enlisted in the
848:
345:
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
1087:
478:
922:
453:
amounted to $ 50,000, 50% went to two agents and 20% went to a writer of an unpublished book about Graham. He and his wife received just $ 15,000 before taxes.
264:
845:
1097:
279:, and was attending elementary school in Houston before he decided to join the Navy, after his father had died and his mother had remarried.
1013:
1036:
827:
1112:
1102:
735:
31:
886:
365:
grandmother's funeral in Texas (he arrived a day late) without permission from the Navy, for which he spent three months in a Texas
986:
399:
in 1948 at age 17. His enlistment in the
Marines also ended early when he fell from a pier and broke his back in 1951 during the
361:
338:
999:
H.R. 610, "An Act Graham is a veteran of Navy and Marine for the relief of Calvin L. Graham", assigned
Private Law No. 100-44.
678:
663:
461:
Graham's Purple Heart was finally reinstated, and presented to his widow, Mary, on June 21, 1994, by
Secretary of the Navy
469:, nearly two years after his death from heart failure. He was buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.
322:
179:
914:
334:
184:
754:
693:
673:
407:, he would spend the rest of his life fighting for full medical benefits and clearing his military service record.
396:
303:
115:
956:
609:
267:
one million during World War II, but later was discovered to have lied about his age and subsequently discharged.
602:
785:
698:
296:
240:
161:
1052:
653:
564:
557:
530:
586:
570:
643:
420:
330:
248:
232:
503:
82:
536:
579:
444:
In 1988, Graham received disability benefits and back pay for his service in the Navy after
President
431:
were reinstated. His story came to public attention in 1988, when his story was told in the TV movie,
1082:
1077:
688:
1057:
416:
1062:
545:
449:
only $ 2,100 of the possible $ 18,000. While the money for the rights to his story for the movie,
99:
462:
433:
350:
252:
140:
103:
805:
892:
882:
878:
871:
595:
346:
206:
70:
1009:
628:
210:
720:
466:
288:
739:
852:
789:
509:
384:
377:
366:
202:
982:
342:
333:
for their service. On the night of
November 14–15, 1942, Graham was wounded during the
256:
1071:
978:
486:
445:
438:
276:
244:
86:
53:
668:
648:
638:
520:
490:
482:
428:
424:
307:
260:
236:
220:
216:
174:
1041:
624:
710:
400:
191:
896:
292:
30:
915:"Decades later, military veterans admit being underage when they enlisted"
353:, and he and his crew mates were awarded another Navy Unit Commendation.
150:
1046:
762:
948:
404:
259:
on August 15, 1942, at the age of 12. His case was similar to that of
136:
1042:
Comptroller
General of the United States: Matter of Calvin L. Graham
782:
146:
481:, as finally settled circa 1994 after intervention by Presidents
983:"Statement on Signing a Bill for the Relief of Calvin L. Graham"
287:
Graham enlisted in the Navy on August 15, 1942. He went through
263:, who was granted significant media attention due to holding
376:
s gunnery officer who was involved in handling his case was
846:"The Boy Who Became A World War II Veteran at 13 Years Old"
403:. Although serving in the Marine Corps qualified him as a
1093:
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War
1108:
United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers
231:(April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest
197:
170:
157:
131:
121:
92:
77:
60:
40:
21:
870:
419:for his service in the Navy, and after writing to
800:
798:
822:
820:
818:
8:
1088:United States Navy personnel of World War II
755:"Meet the youngest surviving WWII veteran"
321:On October 26, 1942, he saw action in the
29:
18:
942:
940:
908:
906:
617:
35:Seaman First Class Calvin Graham in 1942
1058:People Magazine: The Navy's 'Baby' Hero
925:from the original on September 27, 2012
727:
840:
838:
836:
778:
776:
774:
772:
295:for six weeks. He was deployed to the
913:Saxton, Michelle (November 3, 2003).
783:Veterans of Underage Military Service
753:Fontaine, Scott (November 18, 2008).
415:In 1978, Graham was finally given an
7:
947:Diekman, Diane (November 1, 1995).
873:The Greatest War Stories Never Told
844:King, Gilbert (December 19, 2012),
826:Stories from the USS South Dakota,
699:Republic of Korea War Service Medal
423:and with the approval of President
738:. Veteran Tributes. Archived from
14:
989:from the original on May 22, 2011
959:from the original on May 14, 2011
713:
608:
601:
594:
585:
578:
569:
563:
556:
544:
535:
529:
519:
508:
502:
215:
201:
145:
135:
108:
98:
81:
1016:from the original on 2019-09-13
804:Grossman, Ron (June 17, 1994),
247:in the conflict. Following the
1098:Child soldiers in World War II
877:. New York: Collins. pp.
859:. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
812:. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
792:. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
679:National Defense Service Medal
664:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
337:. He served as a loader for a
1:
830:. Archived November 29, 2014.
239:and was one of the few known
694:United Nations Service Medal
1063:Calvin Graham at findagrave
335:Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
185:Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
1129:
1113:United States Navy sailors
828:"At 12, I Fought The Japs"
674:World War II Victory Medal
397:United States Marine Corps
391:US Marine Corps, 1948–1951
243:to fight on behalf of the
235:to serve and fight during
116:United States Marine Corps
1103:People from Canton, Texas
697:
692:
687:
677:
672:
662:
652:
642:
637:
623:
498:
477:Graham's decorations and
28:
16:United States Navy sailor
1037:Lonesailer.org biography
427:, all medals except his
329:and her crew received a
323:Battle of the Santa Cruz
1053:Internet Movie Database
919:Northwest Indiana Times
654:American Campaign Medal
339:40 mm anti-aircraft gun
644:Navy Unit Commendation
331:Navy Unit Commendation
249:attack on Pearl Harbor
981:(November 10, 1988).
869:Breyer, Rick (2005).
765:on November 13, 2011.
411:Post military service
293:San Diego, California
283:US Navy, World War II
251:, he enlisted in the
122:Years of service
689:Korean Service Medal
180:Battle of Santa Cruz
417:honorable discharge
275:Graham was born in
1048:Too Young the Hero
1010:"Veteran Tributes"
953:Clear Lake Courier
851:2014-11-12 at the
806:"A Medal of Honor"
788:2018-06-12 at the
742:on March 26, 2012.
736:"Calvin L. Graham"
451:Too Young The Hero
434:Too Young the Hero
395:Graham joined the
253:United States Navy
229:Calvin Leon Graham
141:Seaman First Class
104:United States Navy
23:Calvin Leon Graham
704:
703:
616:
615:
347:Bronze Star Medal
226:
225:
207:Bronze Star Medal
71:Fort Worth, Texas
1120:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1006:
1000:
998:
996:
994:
975:
969:
968:
966:
964:
944:
935:
934:
932:
930:
910:
901:
900:
876:
866:
860:
842:
831:
824:
813:
802:
793:
780:
767:
766:
761:. Archived from
750:
744:
743:
732:
723:
721:Biography portal
718:
717:
716:
618:
612:
605:
598:
589:
582:
573:
567:
560:
548:
539:
533:
523:
512:
506:
496:
495:
467:Arlington, Texas
375:
360:returned to the
219:
205:
149:
139:
114:
112:
111:
102:
94:
85:
67:
64:November 6, 1992
50:
48:
33:
19:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1118:
1117:
1068:
1067:
1033:
1028:
1019:
1017:
1008:
1007:
1003:
992:
990:
977:
976:
972:
962:
960:
949:"Navy Memorial"
946:
945:
938:
928:
926:
912:
911:
904:
889:
868:
867:
863:
857:Smithsonian.com
853:Wayback Machine
843:
834:
825:
816:
810:Chicago Tribune
803:
796:
790:Wayback Machine
781:
770:
752:
751:
747:
734:
733:
729:
719:
714:
712:
709:
666:
646:
575:
574:
568:
561:
541:
540:
534:
514:
513:
507:
479:military awards
475:
473:Military awards
459:
413:
393:
378:Sargent Shriver
373:
341:and was hit by
319:
285:
273:
233:U.S. serviceman
214:
144:
126:
109:
107:
106:
69:
65:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1126:
1124:
1116:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1070:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1044:
1039:
1032:
1031:External links
1029:
1027:
1026:
1001:
970:
936:
902:
887:
861:
832:
814:
794:
768:
745:
726:
725:
724:
708:
705:
702:
701:
696:
691:
686:
682:
681:
676:
671:
661:
657:
656:
651:
641:
636:
632:
631:
622:
614:
613:
606:
599:
591:
590:
583:
576:
562:
555:
554:
553:
550:
549:
542:
528:
527:
526:
524:
516:
515:
501:
500:
499:
474:
471:
458:
455:
412:
409:
392:
389:
318:
312:
284:
281:
272:
269:
265:service number
257:Houston, Texas
241:child soldiers
224:
223:
199:
195:
194:
190:
189:
187:
182:
172:
168:
167:
159:
155:
154:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
96:
90:
89:
79:
75:
74:
68:(aged 62)
62:
58:
57:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1125:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1015:
1011:
1005:
1002:
988:
984:
980:
979:Ronald Reagan
974:
971:
958:
954:
950:
943:
941:
937:
924:
920:
916:
909:
907:
903:
898:
894:
890:
888:0-06-076017-6
884:
880:
875:
874:
865:
862:
858:
854:
850:
847:
841:
839:
837:
833:
829:
823:
821:
819:
815:
811:
807:
801:
799:
795:
791:
787:
784:
779:
777:
775:
773:
769:
764:
760:
756:
749:
746:
741:
737:
731:
728:
722:
711:
706:
700:
695:
690:
684:
683:
680:
675:
670:
669:service stars
665:
659:
658:
655:
650:
645:
640:
634:
633:
630:
626:
620:
619:
611:
607:
604:
600:
597:
593:
592:
588:
584:
581:
577:
572:
566:
559:
552:
551:
547:
543:
538:
532:
525:
522:
518:
517:
511:
505:
497:
494:
492:
488:
487:Ronald Reagan
484:
480:
472:
470:
468:
464:
456:
454:
452:
447:
446:Ronald Reagan
442:
440:
439:Rick Schroder
436:
435:
430:
426:
422:
418:
410:
408:
406:
402:
398:
390:
388:
386:
381:
379:
372:
368:
363:
359:
354:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
317:
313:
311:
309:
305:
301:
300:
294:
290:
282:
280:
278:
277:Canton, Texas
270:
268:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
245:United States
242:
238:
234:
230:
222:
218:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
193:
188:
186:
183:
181:
178:
177:
176:
173:
169:
166:
165:
160:
156:
152:
148:
142:
138:
134:
130:
124:
120:
117:
105:
101:
97:
91:
88:
87:United States
84:
80:
76:
72:
63:
59:
55:
54:Canton, Texas
51:April 3, 1930
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
1047:
1018:. Retrieved
1004:
991:. Retrieved
973:
961:. Retrieved
952:
927:. Retrieved
918:
872:
864:
856:
809:
763:the original
759:Scripps News
758:
748:
740:the original
730:
649:service star
639:Purple Heart
491:Bill Clinton
483:Jimmy Carter
476:
460:
450:
443:
432:
429:Purple Heart
425:Jimmy Carter
414:
394:
385:Marine Corps
382:
371:South Dakota
370:
358:South Dakota
357:
355:
351:Purple Heart
327:South Dakota
326:
320:
316:South Dakota
315:
308:Oahu, Hawaii
304:Pearl Harbor
299:South Dakota
298:
286:
274:
261:Jack W. Hill
237:World War II
228:
227:
221:Purple Heart
175:World War II
171:Battles/wars
164:South Dakota
163:
66:(1992-11-06)
1083:1992 deaths
1078:1930 births
625:Bronze Star
463:John Dalton
1072:Categories
1020:2019-07-28
707:References
629:Combat "V"
401:Korean War
362:East Coast
271:Early life
211:"V" Device
192:Korean War
78:Allegiance
47:1930-04-03
667:with two
437:starring
289:boot camp
127:1948–1951
125:1942–1943
1014:Archived
993:April 3,
987:Archived
963:April 3,
957:Archived
929:April 3,
923:Archived
897:58985926
849:Archived
786:Archived
685:4th Row
660:3rd Row
635:2nd Row
621:1st Row
421:Congress
349:and the
343:shrapnel
151:Corporal
93:Service/
1051:on the
879:160–161
405:veteran
895:
885:
489:, and
325:. The
198:Awards
153:– USMC
113:
95:branch
647:with
627:with
457:Death
374:'
302:, at
255:from
143:– USN
995:2011
965:2011
931:2011
893:OCLC
883:ISBN
367:brig
356:The
314:USS
297:USS
162:USS
158:Unit
132:Rank
73:, US
61:Died
56:, US
41:Born
465:in
306:in
291:in
209:(W/
1074::
1012:.
985:.
955:.
951:.
939:^
921:.
917:.
905:^
891:.
881:.
855:,
835:^
817:^
808:,
797:^
771:^
757:.
493::
485:,
441:.
387:.
380:.
310:.
213:)
1023:.
997:.
967:.
933:.
899:.
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
