World War II Honoree

Clarence Burton Graham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hoisington, Kansas

Honored By

Evelyn Faye Graham

Relationship

Wife

WAS SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD WHEN WWII STARTED. JOINED THE NAVY THE FOLLOWING SPRING. AFTER BOOT CAMP HE WAS SENT TO SIGNAL SCHOOL AND SPENT ONE WINTER IN THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL YARD. THE USS INDEPENDENCE CVL-22 WAS COMMISSIONED IN 1943 AND HE BOARDED THE SHIP 30 DAYS LATER, HEADED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE AND ON TO CALIFORNIA. SOON LEFT FOR PEARL HARBOR AND ON TO THE COMBAT ZONE AT THE MARCUS ISLANDS. SERVED IN 13 MAJOR ENGAGEMENTS. THE SHIP SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM A TORPEDO THAT STRUCK IT IN 1943. WITH THE SHIP CRIPPLED, THEY HEADED BACK TO CALIFORNIA FOR REPAIRS. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE WAR ZONE UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR, WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE.