Sgt. Clarence Graves, son of Mrs. Peter Graves, Traer, and Traer high school graduate is one of the gallant band that defended Bataan peninsula in the Philippines. His mother has not heard from him since the outbreak of war and his last letter came from the U. S. garrison in the Philippines, where he had been stationed for many months. It is possible he was taken prisoner with the fall of Bataan.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, May 3, 1942
TRAER—Tech. Sgt. Clarence Graves has written his father, Peter Graves, retired Rock Island section foreman, that he is now at Mukden, Manchuria, awaiting transportation by plane back to the States. Sergeant Graves was one of the defenders of Bataan and was a prisoner of the Japs for over three years. In his recent letter he said that the Japs did everything to him but shoot him and that he lived a life of hell under them.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, October 17, 1945
Graves, Clarence P.
Minneapolis, MN
Serial No: 6822281
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Graves
Entered Army: Jul 10, 1931, Inf.
Training in US: Fort Snelling
Left for Overseas: From San Francisco, CA on Feb 20, 1934; arrived Manila, P.I., March 12, 1934
Overseas Training: Nicholas Field, Philippine Islands, 1936. Assigned 19th Air Base Squadron
Sent to Front: Dec 7, 1941, with 19th Air Base Sq.
Engagements: Battle of Bataan, Jan 7, 1942
Wounded: Shrapnel wound, left arm; fractured left leg.
Medals-Ribbons: American Defense Service Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Philippine Defense Service Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Victory
Returned to US: From Manila on Oct 4, 1945; arrived San Francisco, 1945
Discharged: Schick General Hospital, Clinton, IA
Rating: M/Sgt
Months in Service: In Army 18 years, overseas 47 months. Was a prisoner of war in Japanese prison camps for 3-1/2 years, Apr 9, 1942 to Aug 5, 1945. Also walked the Bataan Death March.
Present Occupation: Soldier at Wold Chamberlain Air Base, MN.
Source: Veteran data included here was generously provided by the American Legion Kubik-Finch Post #142, Traer, IA; data gathered by the Legion about 1949.
Clarence P. Graves was born Apr. 17, 1909 to Peter B. and Katie Wessels Graves. He died Sept. 15, 1980 and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.
Chief Warrant Officer Graves served with the U.S. Air Force in World War II and Korea.
Source: ancestry.com
