World War II Honoree

Robert J. Graham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kellogg, Idaho

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On February 17, 1942, he entered the United States Army at Fort Rosecrans, California, later deployed to the Philippine Islands, Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations where he served with Fox Company, 31st Infantry Regiment an element of the Philippine Division. He participated in the Battle of the Philippine Islands (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942), the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces. While retreating to the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon in the Battle of Bataan, the Japanese captured him April 9, 1942. His captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March and incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan Nueva Province, Luzon for 78 days. On June 26, 1942, he died of unknown causes and buried in the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment at the Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg, Idaho. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.