The fascinating story of Calvin Graham

Think about what you were doing when you were 12 years old. I was in the 6th grade and spent my days playing video games, riding my skateboard or chasing the ice cream truck down.

Not Calvin Graham. At age 12, this kid from Canton, Texas managed to enlist in the United States Navy in the months following Pearl Harbor, thereby becoming the youngest U.S. serviceman to fight in WW2. Here's how he did it:

Graham started planning his military career at age 11, when he brought home enlistment papers from a recruiter, who thought they were for his older brother. He filled out the paperwork and forged his mother's signature on the parental release. After this, he stole a notary stamp from a local hotel and placed a raised seal on his enlistment application with another faked signature.

Part of the recruit process was a visit to the dentist, where an inspection would likely reveal that he still had several baby teeth, thus clearly marking him as underage. This is exactly what happened and Graham was flagged as ineligible by the dentist. However, the middle schooler was undeterred. He threatened the dentist by saying he knew of other underaged recruits that his office had recently certified, and that if his file was not endorsed he would ensure the dentist would lose his license. Graham was approved for enlistment and told to report to the Navy on August 15, 1942. He told his mother he was going to visit family in California and boarded a train to boot camp.

Following his basic training, Graham was assigned to the USS South Dakota, which departed Pearl Harbor on October 16, 1942, bound for the South Pacific theater. After action in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Seaman First Class Graham and his shipmates found themselves in one of the most intense naval actions of WW2. At the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, the USS South Dakota was surrounded by eight Japanese destroyers and received 42 enemy hits.

Graham, while assigned as a 40 mm anti-aircraft gunner and loader, was hit by shrapnel and knocked through three stories of the ship's burning deck. Despite the wounds, Graham continued fighting and carrying fellow sailors to safety throughout the night. The USS South Dakota was so badly damaged the Japanese navy believe they had sunk her and moved to engage targets elsewhere. The USS Dakota slipped off to safety and returned the United States for repairs and a complete overhaul. For his actions, Graham was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery in combat, a Purple Heart, and a Navy Unit Commendation.

While at port for these repairs, Graham learned that his grandmother had passed and wanted to attend the funeral. Without permission from the Navy, Graham took a train to Texas for the service. When he saw his mother he informed her that he had actually joined the military and had been wounded.

When the Navy finally found Graham at home in Texas, they placed him in the brig for being AWOL. However, his mother told War Department officials Graham's true age and stated if wasn't released at once, she would inform the media that they had a decorated, combat-wounded 12 year old in prison.

Graham was released from the Navy and stripped of his medals until 1978, when his service record was reinstated. In 1988, Ronald Reagan signed legislation allowing Graham full disability benefits from his wartime injuries, along with back pay.