CAPTAIN GRAHAM REMEMBERED

I was an Oral History Team Chief, gathering recorded interviews at An Hoa on the day Captain James Graham died. The land was so flat we could stand on the bunkers and see, far off in the distance, part of the battle. Fox, 2/5 had been caught in a classic horseshoe ambush, a very large one. Men were lying down in the rice paddies and still getting hit. Major Richard Esau, the 2/5 S-3, grabbed every available Marine in the area, cooks, Remington raiders, Motor T, and they took off straight across the rice paddies to relieve F/2/5. I was a SSgt., and belonged to Major General Lew Walt at III MAF, so I guess that's why he didn't grab me, too. I knew Esau. If there had been any way to get to F/2/5 in time, Esau would have. But time and distance were against him. We could hear it all over the radios.

Capt. Graham had ordered his First Sergeant to take the Marines who could move and get them out of there, back to the Fifth Marines area at An Hoa. Capt. Graham was going to get out one wounded young Marine who was along the edge of the rice paddy in a bit of a treeline. But the young man was so badly wounded he screamed involuntarily everytime the Captain tried to move him. Then, I guess to the surprise of no one who knew him, Capt. Graham made the decision to remain behind with his wounded Marine. He would not leave the young man. It was there they were overrun by the enemy.

Later, when I interviewed what was left of F/2/5, I kept hearing the same thing, that Capt. Graham was a Christian. He was a Christian leader. His Marines told me he never shoved it down anybody's throat, he never looked down on them, but he was always there for them. He looked out for them. He cared about them. With tears streaming down their faces, they told me he cared about them. And he wouldn't leave that young Marine out there alone.

All the tapes I did in the field were always classified because they contained operational information. Then they were shipped out to HQMC. The idea was to give young officers at Quantico a feel for what it was like in Viet Nam, before they came over. At least, that's what I was told. Today the small mountain of tapes my team did 1967-68 sit gathering dust in the Historical Archives; most untouched, unheard. However, I was later told my tapes of F/2/5 never made it out of 1st Marine Division G-3. They were erased and not sent on. No explanation why.

But Captain James Graham is one of several people whose hand I want to shake when I get up there and see the Father. I know Graham is there. There's never been any doubt in my military mind about that.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During OPERATION UNION II, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, consisting of Companies 'A' and 'D', with Captain Graham's company attached, launched an attack against an enemy occupied position with two companies assaulting and one in reserve. Company 'F', a leading company, was proceeding across a clear paddy area 1000 meters wide, attacking toward the assigned objective, when it came under fire from mortars and small arms which immediately inflicted a large number of casualties.

Hardest hit by the enemy fire was the 2nd Platoon of Company 'F', which was pinned down in the open paddy area by intense fire from two concealed machine-guns. Forming an assault unit from members of his small company headquarters, Captain Graham boldly led a fierce assault through the second platoon's position, forcing the enemy to abandon the first machine-gun position, thereby relieving some of the pressure on his second position, enabling evacuation of the wounded to a more secure area. Resolute to silence the second machine-gun, which continued its devastating fire, Captain Graham's small force stood steadfast in its hard won enclave.

Subsequently, during the afternoon's fierce fighting, he suffered two minor wounds while personally accounting for an estimated 15 enemy killed. With the enemy position remaining invincible upon each attempt to withdraw to friendly lines, and although knowing that he had no chance of survival, he chose to remain with one man who could not be moved due to the seriousness of his wounds. The last radio transmission from

Captain Graham reported that he was being assaulted by a force of 25 enemy soldiers; he died while protecting himself and the wounded man he chose not to abandon. Captain Graham's actions throughout the day were a series of heroic achievements. His outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit undoubtedly saved the second platoon from annihilation and reflected great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Capt. James was selected for astronaut training. He chose to serve the balance of his VN tour. In so doing his heroic actions preserved the lives of several other Marines. He also appears to be one of the handful of US military personnel to achieve the trifecta of valor awards--the MOH-The Navy Cross--the Silver Star.

The relegation of the name and story of this heroic man to virtual oblivion beyond his Corps says a lot about what are leaders have become. The Navy has named for epbephile pervert and a neo communist labor agitator. Schools have been named for these two.

To my knowledge neither has been done in honor of Captain James Graham. Shame upon us and those who are responsible,

Thank you Skipper, so many lived because of your sacrifice. You was right, it was the only option left. Semper Fi
POSTED ON 5.29.2017 POSTED BY: # 2268112

Posted on the Wall by one of his Marines known only by serial number but I'm betting it came from his Company Gunny.
Semper Fi

Thanks for taking time to post this article.

Marines do not leave Marines behind...even when it means dying with them.

Here is a link to another Marine MOH winner:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Bobo?wprov=sfti1

I first read 2nd Lt Bobo’s MOH citation in the main reception area of O’Bannon Hall at TBS on 1978. The citation notes that he wasn’t just wounded; he had the lower half of his right leg blown off. The rest of the story is in the citation. Brought tears of pride at his heroism at the time. Still does even after all these years.

My understanding is that, once reformed, his unit counterattacked for the specific purpose of recovering his body.

Marines do not leave Marines behind, living or dead.

“His outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit undoubtedly saved the second platoon from annihilation...”

Sometimes one fights and sacrifices for their country.

Sometimes one fights and sacrifices for the greater good of the battle.

Sometimes one fights and sacrifices for just one.

God bless Captain James Graham for doing all three.

Thank You for a well deserved post.

Captain Graham was my first XO in the FMF; H&S 3/6. His bearing & manner served me as a model of a U.S. Marine officer.

In my work station at home, I have a rubbing of his name from The Wall. Hills in Arlington have gotten steeper so I’m unable to visit Captain Graham as in past years. Still remember him each Memorial Day and times in between.

SanchoP mention a Marine leaving a remembrance to Captain Graham with their service number. Doubt it was his Gunny. The SN mentioned was 22XXXXX. Based on my SN, it may have been assigned to someone “newer on the job” at that time.

Captain Rhino mentioned Lt. John Bobo. My battalion was at Camp Carroll sorting things out between operations. We watched I/3/9 go out for that afternoon’s assignment. Not long after they “stepped in it”. Back in camp, we were quickly mustered as a relief force but for unknown reason, we didn’t go out.

In guard company about a year later, a shipmate had served in I/3/9 with Lt. Bobo. Talking about Mister Bobo, my friend told me of his goodness and how hard he went down. It brought him to tears.

Semper Fidelis

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