World War II Honoree

John T. Graham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Nueces County, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WHO, WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE APRIL 20, 1942 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. SERVED WITH F-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 137TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 35TH INFANTRY ‘SANTA FE’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HIS DIVISION WAS A UNIT OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD AND LANDED ON THE OMAHA BEACHHEAD, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF PURPLE HEART CORNER DURING THE BATTLE OF ST. LO, FRANCE. HE WAS THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE 137TH REGIMENT TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN BATTLE AND WAS INTERRED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE; HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY IN TEXAS, FOR BURIAL IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.