World War II Honoree

James Willard Graves

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Omaha, Nebraska

Honored By

Dennis J. Bledsoe

Relationship

Cousin

WAS KILLED IN THE AFTERNOON OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE U.S. ATTACK ON GUAM. HE WENT TO THE AID OF ONE OF THE MEN IN HIS COMMAND AND WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, PASSING AWAY INSTANTLY. HE WAS BURIED FIRST IN GUAM, THEN ON OCTOBER 30, 1948 WAS BURIED IN THE CAVALRY CEMETERY, YAKIMA, WASHINGTON. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, THE CHINA SERVICE MEDAL FOR THE WORK HE DID IN CHINA PRIOR TO THE WAR EMERGENCY, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL FOR HIS WORK IN CHINA DURING THE WAR AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL FOR HIS WORK IN THAT AREA.