James A. Graham

He stayed with a wounded Marine fighting to protect his life

James Albert Graham received the Medal of Honor for leading Marines during Operation Union II in Vietnam. Born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1940, he served as a captain commanding Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines.

He completed a mathematics degree at Frostburg Teachers College in June 1963. His earlier service included the Army, District of Columbia National Guard, Army Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve. He entered the regular Marine Corps in September 1963 and was commissioned a second lieutenant that November, later undertaking flight training at Pensacola. On June 2, 1967, in Quang Tin Province, intense fire pinned down his second platoon in an open rice paddy. Graham formed a small assault force and led it against concealed machine guns. The attack forced one gun crew to withdraw and allowed wounded Marines to be evacuated. Despite two wounds, he continued fighting. When withdrawal attempts failed, he remained with a seriously wounded man who could not be moved. Graham died defending the position and the Marine he refused to leave.

His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his family in Washington on October 29, 1968. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His award commemorates leadership and devotion to a wounded comrade.

Official Medal of Honor citation

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 Capt. 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 1,000 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 2d 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, Capt. 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 platoon, and enabling evacuation of the wounded to a more secure area. Resolute to silence the second machine gun, which continued its devastating fire, Capt. 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 Capt. 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. Capt. 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 Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.