World War II Honoree

Charles K. Graydon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cincinnati, Ohio

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY WITH THE 101ST CAVALARY. PRIOR TO HIS SERVICE WITH THE 101ST, COLONEL GRAYDON SERVED AS AN ENLISTED MAN IN THE 4TH CAVALRY, FORT MEADE, SOUTH DAKOTA. HE RETURNED TO SCHOOL AND IN 1931 EARNED A RESERVE COMMISSION AS SECOND LIEUTENANT FIELD ARTILLERY THROUGH THE ROTC PROGRAM AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY. HE JOINED THE 101ST IN JANUARY 1934. HE SERVED AS AN ENLISTED MAN, PLATOON LEADER, EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND GROUP OPERATIONS OFFICER (S-3) DURING COMBAT IN EUROPE. AFTER 12 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE 101ST, ENDING IN AUGUST 1945, HE BECAME THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE 302ND ARMORED CAVALRY USAR, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. IN 1949, HE ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 325TH TANK BATTALION, USAR, IN LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, WHICH HE TOOK INTO ACTIVE DUTY IN AUGUST, 1950. THE BATTTALION CONDUCTED TRAINING AT THE ARMORED COMBAT TRAINING CAMP IRWIN, CALIFORNIA.