Francis Graham; completely legit
Someone sent us this Francis Graham fellow to check on because the story that he told the local news was implausible. He claimed to be a Navy diver during the Korean War and Special Forces during Vietnam. The article says that he joined the Army Air Corps in 1947, then the Navy when he was discharged from the fledgling Air Force;
“I didn’t like the ship or the duty,” he said. While on the LST, another seaman also wanted off the ship. He told Graham the military was taking volunteers for underwater demolition. They both applied for the specialty, which became the forerunner of the Navy Seals.
[…]
In 1962, he joined the Green Berets, serving alternately with the 5th, 6th, 10th (and later, the 7th) Special Forces. On his first assignment in Vietnam in 1963, his team leader was none other than Ola Lee Mize, a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient. Graham eventually retired from Special Forces in 1971.
Even though Graham had dropped out of school to join the military, after his retirement, he went all the way through college, earning his Ph.D. in Psychology in 1976. He and his wife, Patricia (Bogard) moved to Waco in 1982; they have been married now for 30 years.
Well, according to Don Shipley (Graham was in Class #1, UDT Team #1) and Mary, it’s all completely true. I’m so glad, actually. After dealing with the phonies, it’s refreshing to bump into a real hero who doesn’t have to embellish his story. I’m just hoping that you feel the same elation I did to accidentally brush up against the history of 84-year-old Francis Graham.
Category: Real Soldiers
I love seeing crazy stories like that. Something that you will never see in today’s military.
That’s a bad man right there
A doctor UDT Special Forces…or just BADASS!
It’s very refreshing to read about a real life BADASS like him after seeing so many posers!!
Wow, UDT and SF! This guy is a true hero and badass! Thank you for your service and sacrifice Dr. Graham!
Well,his story may be true,but the part about MSG Olla Lee Mize being a Viet Nam MOH recipient is incorrect. MSG Mize received the MOH for his actions at Outpost Harry in Korea on 10 June 1953. He was a member of K Co,15th Infantry,3rd Inf Div. MSG/COL Mize passed away from cancer on 12 Mar 2014 in Gadsen,AL.
If any of you are wondering why would Claw bring something like that up,I’ll try to explain. When I was assigned to the 15th Inf (1981-1983)it was required knowledge for all soldiers to be able to recall the names of all the MOH recipients of the Regiment at any time,not just during promotion/soldier of the month boards,etc. Just a small way of insuring the honor/integrity/legacy of the outfit was maintained. The 15th Infantry was more than just the legacy of Audie Murphy. Hell,I can’t remember what I had for supper two days ago,but I can still recall all the names of the MOH recipients.
Oops,two corrections. COL Mize passed on 5(not 12) March 2014 in Gadsden(not Gadsen)AL.
“I received a lot of help along the way,” Graham said. “I am thankful to those people who assisted me in attaining those goals.” There. That’s the last line in the article about him. It should have been the first because it distinguishes him from all of the posers immediately.
And wanna bet he didn’t receive a Ph.D. from a mail-order diploma mill? A high school dropout with a Ph.D. I love it. Life is what you make it. He has made the most of his. Salute.
2/17 Air Cav…Here-Here and Roger That! He’s one of a kind for sure.
Graham was in Class #1, UDT Team #1
Impressive, very very impressive.
It’s like when you pick up the bottle without really paying attention and you’re expecting beer but instead you get cider.
When I was assuming this was another faker, I kept thinking at least he’s wearing it classy. Turns out there was a reason.
All I got is, What A Guy!!! All my respect for Mr. Francis Graham. They don’t make many like him anymore. I’m glad he’s still with us and wish him many more years to share his stories.
Some folks end up having really amazing lives.
This cat is a certified bad ass. Does anyone have any info on that EOD badge? Just wondering if he got it while in the Navy or the Army.
From the linked article, it appears to have been initially in the Navy, with an assignment to an EOD job in the Army as well.
But yeah. Bad. Ass.
Bad ass facter 10+
Under his name and photo in the Joint MILSPEC procurment manual, it reads simply:
Testicles, Large, Brass, (UI Set)
He’s tough to the point where he always wears out his clothes from the inside and could give Badass lessons to Chuck Norris!
Chuck Norris was mentored by Frank Graham, but washed out on his first attempt. He later completed his training the second time through.
Chuck Norris fact #1
I should have known!!!
Chuck Norris Fact#2: If Chuck Norris gives you the finger,that’s how many seconds you have to live.
Chuck Norris won a staring contest against the Sun AFTER Francis Graham personally showed him how to do it!
Hey, Master Chief:
Now, THERE is your GENUINE “most interesting man in the world”!
I gladly forfeit the title.
“Stay thirsty, my friends.”
He looks like he could STILL kick ass. He could probably get through BUD/S while smoking a cigar, and sipping 12 year old scotch.
That guy is a class A1 Badass.
Sad sign of the times that the minute we see someone in the news media, especially one with such a rich background as him, the first thought we have is, is he real?
And the scramble to send his pictures to various websites to determine the accuracy of claims.
A refreshing change of pace from the phonies and fakers we see around here.
What an amazing, inspiring, true-life adventure story. He may be 84, but he still looks like he could kick your ass. I wouldn’t want to tangle with him!
Holy shit. Thought I was reading a DuffleBlog article. Total BAMF. Anyone know how many UDT/SEAL guys ever crossed over to Green Beret (or vice/versa)? Absolutely cannot be many. Check out that Korea photo. Hardcore looking MFR’s for sure. We’ve just seen the origins of ‘thug life’. And that dude with the ‘Flavor-Flav’ looking bling around his neck standing next to Frank. Anyone know WTF that is? Jeez I feel like a pussy. I’m pretty much speechless about this Warrior. hmm, that’s never happened to me before.
CWO,No idea what the “Flavor-Flav” looking device is. I was Army. My guess is it’s a testicle circumference measuring tool. As in,your balls need to be at least this big to be one of us.
I’m guessing it’s a depth gauge or compass? I know those normally are smaller and worn on the wrist … but in 1950s??
Dunno.
BAMF. A true Quiet Professional
Yeah, it’s the usual embellishing dude . . .
what, huh, wait, what? Totally legit? Is this a sign the rapture is about the begin?
WOW! Just. WOW!
A life story that reads like a posers wet dream. But it’s REAL. Sir, I salute you.
We luckily have lots of guys like him in our military and out of it too, thanks to ovomit…
This gentleman has truly earned the respect of myself and all others here.
I would say that many of the guys that would do the same are also readers and commentators here. they are like this man, humble.
I’m too old and get tired just reading about his exploits !!!
Now … THAT is how a beret is properly worn.
All I’ve seen since the millenial turn-over is the wet-pancake-pulled-over-the-right-eye method.
Uggh!
I hasten to add, that I retired well before the black beret was issued to everyone, and all I’ve seen lately is the “wet flapjack style.” I grew up as a Special Forces brat from the early 60s’ through 1970 — they used to SHRINK the beret before wearing it. Now it’s stretched???
Glad to see I’m not the only one to make that observation! You’d think that the wear of a beret would be an important tradition to carry on as a very simple way to honor those who set the standard.
Sad to see what the youngsters do to those berets. From here it looks very disrespectful. Not sure what sort of fashion statement they are trying to make, but it just looks silly.
Oh, well.
First clue…He’s not wearing nine rows of medals on his blazer, topped by the Silver Star with combat ‘V’
Mk 1, Mod 0 BAMF.
Now that’s the way to start off your week! A genuine, larger-than-life, legendary hero. We all need this type of story from time to time to remind us that there are some legitimate bad-asses out there with interesting backstories. This is the kind of guy that needs a movie made about him. Air Force to Navy UDT to Army Special Forces, now that’s a story. And a legit PhD to boot! Hey, Chevy, this is how it’s done!
birdbath, wittless, cheddernaught, and paulie boy …..please take note of the Gentleman above.
This BAMF’s shadow has more substance all of you combined.
A Real deal warrior, real PhD, his rank isn’t “honorary” or fraudulent, his awards were earned and he does not need to brag about it, though he surely has earned the right to do so.
This is everything all of you crave and aspire to be, yet you never will.
He has done more in a few years than all of you will accomplish in your entire dismal, miserable, pathetic, charlatan driven lives.
Look up boys, because that Man will stand head and shoulders above you even when he is finally lowered into his grave.
Francis Graham…well done Sir
I hear that when he fit the beret, it looked off line. He checked it and checked it again. He found that the beret was properly seated and aligned but that one of his eyebrows was higher than the other. So, he took a box cutter, cut down the higher eyebrow and said, “There. Done. Now it’s squared away. Go ahead and take the picture.”
I guess I should mentioned that Don Shipley said his class number was #1.
Class #1?
Jeeez….he was the original mold they used to make all the others from…..
That is cool!
West, East or Fort Pierce?
I don’t even know where the first class was conducted.
Again, cool!
Damn! Forget about “horsehide tough”, that Old Warrior is at least twice as tough as Kevlar!!
We need more articles like this to balance out the fakers.
Thanks for writing this. I was starting to view everyone as a faker. The genuine heroes are the ones that just live life and don’t need to tell everyone how great they were. They live honorable lives everyday.
So refreshing to see this story. Many thanks.
I don’t comment here very often, but can’t pass up a chance on this one. He’s more of a man than I could ever hope to be. I’d like to know every year that he’s still with us.
Thank you, Mr. Graham.
“In James Michener’s book “The Bridges at Toko-Ri,” he writes of an officer waiting through the night for the return of planes to a carrier as dawn is coming on. And he asks, “Where do we find such men?” Well, we find them where we’ve always found them. They are the product of the freest society man has ever known. They make a commitment to the military—make it freely, because the birthright we share as Americans is worth defending. God bless America.”
Ronald Reagan: “Radio Address to the Nation on Armed Forces Day”, May 15, 1982.
“Such men” indeed.
I sent the link to my Dad asking if he might have known Francis Graham. Dad was an SFC-1SG in the 505th when he transferred to the 77th Special Forces Group in 1954 (he was the Team Sergeant for Lauri Torni/Larry Thorne); after OCS he was with 1st/6th/5th/Training Group.
His response:
The Waco newspaper still has his story up.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/veterans_profiles/voices-of-valor-francis-graham/article_be7d05d5-e56a-5bc3-b688-26ce6644af24.html
And that would be a good thing. Can’t imagine why they should take it down.
A true hero.
My bad. Reading comprehension failing today. I mixed him up with another. I will now go put myself in timeout.