Terrence C. Graves

[Vulture6]

TERRENCE C. GRAVES
SECOND LIEUTENANT, USMC



Second Lieutenant Terrence Collinson Graves, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in February 1968, was born 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, 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. A battalion commander of his NROTC unit while attending Miami University, he was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant upon graduation.

Lieutenant Graves 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, 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division. While on patrol at Quang Tri Province on 16 February 1968, 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.

Lieutenant Graves was survived by his parents, Mr. Leslie C. Graves, former Lieutenant, USN, and Mrs. Marjorie C. Graves of Groton, New York, one brother, and one sister.

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 3d 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 .