Wednesday Hero

Sgt. James R. Graham III
25 years old from Coweta, Oklahoma
4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
August 1, 2005


Sgt. James R. Graham II was killed in a suicide car bombing near Hit, Iraq, about 85 miles northwest of Baghdad, on August 1, 2005. He was was assigned to the Marine Reserve Unit in Broken Arrow, an anti-tank company. The military said Graham was "conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom" when the bomber struck. He is survived by a wife and two children.

Graham had received three medals for his time served in Iraq, including the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Selective Marine Corps Reserve medal, said Christopher Logan, media officer for the Marine Forces Reserve. Graham will receive more honors as well, including a Purple Heart, Logan said.

Betty Willhoite, a next-door neighbor, said she has fond memories of Graham playing with his boys. "He would always be out there showing the oldest how to kick a soccer ball into the net," Willhoite said. "He was a nice man. He worked very hard and was such a good person. I just hate to see this happen to such a nice, young family. He felt like it was his duty."

Willhoite said she heard the news from Graham's wife, who was out in the yard. Willhoite said she asked the family pastor to add them to a church prayer list. "He was very gentle and a great father, a little on the quiet side," Willhoite said. "I've never heard him raise his voice."

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived



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