Terrence C. Graves
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| Terrence Collinson Graves | |
|---|---|
| July 6, 1945 - February 16, 1968 | |
  2ndLt Terrence C. Graves, Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Place of death | KIA in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1967-1968 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Second Lieutenant Terrence Collinson Graves (1945-1968) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit" in Vietnam on February 16, 1968. He was killed in action at the end of this day of intense fighting.
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[edit] Early years
Terrence Graves was born on 6 July 1945, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and grew up in New York, New York. He graduated from Edmeston Central High School, Edmeston, New York, in 1963, and from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, with a B.A. degree on 19 April 1967.
During his school years, he was a senior patrol leader of the Boy Scouts of America and President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Graves was battalion commander of his NROTC unit while attending Miami University.
[edit] Marine Corps service
In 1967, Graves was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant upon graduation from Miami University. He completed The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in November 1967.
In December 1967, he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was assigned duty as a platoon commander of "Team Box Score", 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. While on patrol at Quang Tri Province on 16 February 1968, his recon patrol were met by enemy soldiers. At the end of a fierce fight with the enemy, he was killed in action when the helicopter he had boarded crashed after being hit by enemy fire.
His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
SECOND LIEUTENANT TERRENCE C. GRAVES
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon commander with the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company. While on a long-range reconnaissance mission, 2d Lt. Graves' 8-man patrol observed 7 enemy soldiers approaching their position. Reacting instantly, he deployed his men and directed their fire on the approaching enemy. After the fire had ceased, he and 2 patrol members commenced a search of the area, and suddenly came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. When 1 of his men was hit by the enemy fire, 2d Lt. Graves moved through the fire-swept area to his radio and, while directing suppressive fire from his men, requested air support and adjusted a heavy volume of artillery and helicopter gunship fire upon the enemy. After attending the wounded, 2d Lt. Graves, accompanied by another Marine, moved from his relatively safe position to confirm the results of the earlier engagement. Observing that several of the enemy were still alive, he launched a determined assault, eliminating the remaining enemy troops. He then began moving the patrol to a landing zone for extraction, when the unit again came under intense fire which wounded 2 more Marines and 2d Lt. Graves. Refusing medical attention, he once more adjusted air strikes and artillery fire upon the enemy while directing the fire of his men. He led his men to a new landing site into which he skillfully guided the incoming aircraft and boarded his men while remaining exposed to the hostile fire. Realizing that 1 of the wounded had not embarked, he directed the aircraft to depart and, along with another Marine, moved to the side of the casualty. Confronted with a shortage of ammunition, 2d Lt. Graves utilized supporting arms and directed fire until a second helicopter arrived. At this point, the volume of enemy fire intensified, hitting the helicopter and causing it to crash shortly after liftoff. All aboard were killed. 2d Lt. Graves' outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit throughout the day were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON
[edit] Honors
In 2001, a memorial honoring Graves was dedicated on Main Street in the village of Groton, Tompkins County, New York.[1]
Graves' name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) is found on Panel 39E - Row 071. [2]
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- 2ndLt Terrence C. Graves, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
- Medal of Honor citation, United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor citations.
- ^ Higgins, Dan. "1,500 salute Graves: Groton dedicates memorial to fallen Marine", The Ithaca Journal, July 9, 2001. (retrieved April 9, 2006)
- ^ Terrence C. Graves, Vietnam War Memorial.
[edit] External link
[edit] Further reading
- Lanning, Michael and Ray Stubbe Inside Force Recon, Recon Marines in Vietnam.
