World War II Honoree

Wallace Harry Graham, M.D.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Highland, Kansas

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He was personal Physician to President Harry S. Truman. Trained for advanced surgical procedures for combat duty and on June 1944 he joined the Normandy invasion with the 24th Evacuation Hospital. He later served with the 51st Field Hospital, the 2nd Armored Division and with the 101st Armored Division. Wounded on three different encounters and after recovering, he served the 9th Army as Chief of Surgeons in the 97th Evacuation Hospital. Attended the wounded of Operation Overlord, Operation Torch, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. He was fluent in German and helped when dealing with German prisoners of war. He was present at the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp and among the first physicians to treat the prisoners. At the Potsdam Conference, he provided medical care to the President, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. Received the following international decorations for medical care to the wounded: Belgium, the Order of Leopold II, Grand Officer and Croix de Guerre wit Palm; Greece, Order of the Phoenix, Grand Officer; France, Legion d'Honneur, Commander and Chevalier; Dominican Republic, Order of Juan Pablo Durante, Grand Officer; Cuba, Order of Carlos Finlay, Grand Officer; Brazil, Order of Military Merit, First Class; Nicaragua, Order of Military Merit, First Class; Peru, Medical Distinction; Mexico, Medical Citation and medical Distinction. He also received the Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, and two Bronze Stars.