World War II Honoree

Louis Raymond Graham

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Clinton, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private 1st Class. On December 31, 1943, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Illinois, receiving his Basic Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon his deployment to the Pacific Theater Operations, he served with Charlie Company, 5th Pioneer Battalion a subordinate unit of the 5th Marine ‘the Spearhead/Fighting Fifth’ Division attached to the V-Amphibious Corps. His Division participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese Imperial Army and Naval forces on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Friday, March 23, 1945 he died of wounds sustained in combat and buried at sea. In remembrance of the Brave, his name is recorded in the Tablets of the Missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. His family has placed a Memorial Marker at the Rose Cemetery in Lane, Illinois in his memory. This Marine, an American Patriot awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.