LCPL PAUL ARNOLD GRAFF

PAUL ARNOLD GRAFF

A Note From the Virtual Wall
On 25 May 1969 Bravo Company, 1/3 Marines, was holding a defensive position about 5 kilometers southwest of Cam Lo (in Quang Tri Province just south of the DMZ). The position had received enemy 82mm mortar fire during the morning hours, apparently without harm, but the company's luck changed in the afternoon. The Command Chronology reports that 'At 251745H, at Bravo Company position vicinity YD055684, the NVA firing 82mm mortars ... dropped one round into the increments pit of the 81mm mortars, setting them on fire, fire spread to the 81mm ammo in the ammo pits, this started the 81mm ammo going off, and the fire spread to a pallet of 81mm ammo near the position, causing it to explode. People trying to put out the fire before the explosion got too close, Bravo suffered 8 KIA, 29 WIA, and 2 MIA. Rounds continued to cook off, making it impossible that night to get every one of the KIA or WIA out. Company forced to move off hill by continuous explosions.' On the morning of the 26th the Marines regrouped, reoccupied the position, and recovered additional bodies, increasing the casualty count to 12 dead. No identifiable remains were recovered for two Marines known to be present, and a week later one of the wounded died of his injuries. The fifteen men were 1stLt John W. Abbott, Hammond, IN, Bravo 1/3 2ndLt Timothy M. O'Neill, St Louis, MO, Bravo 1/3 Cpl Gary D. Carter, Tyler, TX, Bravo 1/3 Cpl Daniel L. Pucci, Berea, OH, Bravo 1/3 (DoW 06/02/1969) Cpl Jan Rauschkolb, Denver, CO, H&S 1/3 Cpl William F. Skaggs, St Paul, MN, Bravo 1/3 LCpl Paul A. Graff, Sunnyvale, CA, H&S 1/3 LCpl Michael A. Powell, Atlanta, GA, H&S 1/3 LCpl John Winters, Clark, NJ, Bravo 1/3 Pfc Jimmy K. Church, Columbus, OH, Bravo 1/3 Pfc Keith A. Kahlstorf, Britt, IA, Bravo 1/3 Pfc Edward T. O'Donovan, Chicago, IL, Bravo 1/3 Pfc Jim J. Walters, Sioux City, IA, Bravo 1/3 Pfc Leroy C. Williams, Jacksonville, FL, Bravo 1/3 (Body not recovered) Pvt Monek Weitz, Roxbury, MA, A Btry, 1/12 Marines (Body not recovered)
May 25, 2012

j d
Forty years today
LCpl: Today is Memorial Day 2009 and forty years since you sacrificed all for our country and our Corp. Someday we will meet in Heaven with its streets guarded by United States Marines. With great respect from those who came home to those who did not. Semper Fi!!
May 25, 2009

manny g
Fellow Veteran 69-70 An Khe
Union Gap, WA. 98903
“You are Remembered”
Peace and condolence, to the family and friends. "He which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.” Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare) May God Bless You for your Sacrifice!!!
May 25, 2007

Ray Harton
mc2316774@aol.com
Fellow Marine
Honoring another brave Marine today. I did not know you but will never forget your sacrifice and service to our Country and our Corps. Rest in Peace Marine. You served with Honor. Semper-fi. Cpl.Harton, USMC Ret. Vietnam 1967 5th Marines
Sunday, August 27, 2000

Mark Haslam
malsah1@aol.com
friend
4275 Dallas Court
Fremont,CA 94536 USA
A GREAT FRIEND AND EXAMPLE
Paul Graff played football after school with a bunch of us (two years his junior) at Ortega Junior High School in Sunnyvale, California, even when he was himself a Fremont High School football star. He spent an inordinate amount of time nurturing guys that were not built like him physically, but encouraged their spirit and self esteem. He was patient, fair, and above all, giving of himself. He was anxious to enlist on the buddy system and was truely a believer in this country and in supporting freedom wherever his country called on him to serve. He truly exemplified in his short life and untimely death a "Christ Consciousness" for which this lucky friend is eternally grateful. One troubling issue is that Paul, I was told, died in Laos calling in artillary rounds as a spotter. I for one would like to have someone confirm for me that this is true, as the Governments party line is that we were not in Laos at the time. For those of you that knew him, and most of all for those of you that were family to him, know that I am appreciative of the time that I shared with him and that he made a tremendous difference in my life by what he did while living, and the ultimate sacrifice that he made for our quality of life and freedom. Mark Haslam
Thursday, October 14, 1999

Grateful American
Fellow Californian
American Hero
Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. Rest well Marine. You are not forgotten.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004

JOHN GRILLO
FELLOW MARINE AND BROTHER
san jose, ca
charlie company 7th motor transport -served together
My nickname was Stubby, I was with Paul the night he was killed, we just got back from an all day convoy, everyone was dog tired, Paul was kikking back in his hootch, I just left him to go and take a shower about a 100 yds away, when the mortors started dropping I jumped into nearest bunker I could find. A Medical Bunker we had just built a month prior. One of the captains came running in a said Stubby we have casualties, Your going to have to help-I was scared to death, then they started bringing in stretchers, I saw Paul for the last time. I went to the Wall a couple of years ago to visit him. I have a RUBBING of his name on top of my TV as a constant reminder of what a great person and friend he was. SEMPER-FI PAUL,, STUBBY
Thursday, August 19, 2004

P.G. C.
MAY YOUR SOUL AND ALL THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFULLY DEPARTED REST IN PEACE. THANKS PAUL FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
Sunday, May 25, 2003