James A . Graham Captain James Albert Graham ( August 25 , 1940 – June 2 , 1967 ) was a United States Marine who was posthumous ly awarded the highest U . S . military honor — the Medal of Honor for his heroism and sacrifice of life in June 1967 , during the Vietnam War . James Albert Graham was born on August 25 , 1940 , in the Pittsburgh suburb of Wilkinsburg , Pennsylvania . He attended high school in Brandywine , Maryland . In June 1963 , He received a B . A . degree in Mathematics upon graduation from Teachers College in Frostburg , Maryland . He is seen in a photo and written about in the book " Not Going Home Alone " by James J . Kirschke . Military service . Prior to enlisting in the regular Marine Corps , he was a member of the U . S . Army ( 1955 – 57 ) , the District of Columbia National Guard ( 1959 – 61 ) , the U . S . Army Reserve ( 1961 ) , and the U . S . Marine Corps Reserve ( 1961 – 63 ) . He was discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve to accept a regular appointment in the Marine Corps , September 30 , 1963 . He then attended the Officers Candidate School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia , and was commissioned a second lieutenant on November 1 , 1963 . After completing Officer Candidate School in December , 2dLt Graham commenced naval air basic training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida . He then attended The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , graduating in November 1964 . In January 1965 , he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion , 6th Marines , 2nd Marine Division , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , and served consecutively as a platoon commander of Company I , Executive Officer of Headquarters and Service Company , and Commanding Officer of Company M . During this period , Lt Graham participated in the Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic expedition to protect the lives of Americans during the uprising there from April until June 1965 . While stationed at Camp Lejeune . In November 1966 , he joined the 2nd Replacement Company , Staging Battalion , Marine Corps Base , Camp Pendleton , California , for transfer to the Republic of Vietnam . Upon arrival in South Vietnam the following month , Capt Graham joined the 2nd Battalion , 5th Marines , 1st Marine Division . He first served as Commanding Officer of Company H , until January 1967 , then became Commanding Officer of Company F . While in command of Company F on June 2 , 1967 , during Operation Union II at Quang Tin , Capt Graham chose to remain with one of his men who could not be moved due to the seriousness of his wounds , and was mortally wounded . Captain Graham is buried in Arlington National Cemetery . Awards and decorations . A complete list of his medals and decorations includes : the Medal of Honor , the Purple Heart , the Presidential Unit Citation , the Navy Unit Commendation , the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal , the National Defense Service Medal , the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , the Vietnamese Service Medal with one bronze star , and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to CAPTAIN JAMES A . GRAHAM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer , Company F , Second Battalion , Fifth Marines , First Marine Division , in the Republic of Vietnam on 2 June 1967 . During Operation UNION II , the First Battalion , Fifth Marines , consisting of Companies A and D , with Captain Graham ' s company attached , launched an attack against an enemy occupied position , with two companies assaulting and one in reserve . Company F , a leading company , was proceeding across a clear paddy area , one thousand meters wide , attacking toward the assigned objective , when it came under heavy fire from mortars and small arms which immediately inflicted a large number of casualties . Hardest hit by the enemy fire was the second platoon of Company F , which was pinned down in the open paddy area by intense fire from two concealed machine guns . Forming an assault unit from members of his small company headquarters , Captain Graham boldly led a fierce assault through the second platoon ' s position , forcing the enemy to abandon the first machine - gun position , thereby relieving some of the pressure on his second platoon and enabling evacuation of the wounded to a more secure area . Resolute to silence the second machine - gun , which continued its devastating fire , Captain Graham ' s small force stood steadfast in its hard won enclave . Subsequently , during the afternoon ' s fierce fighting , he suffered two minor wounds while personally accounting for an estimated fifteen enemy killed . With the enemy position remaining invincible upon each attempt to silence it and with their supply of ammunition exhausted , Captain Graham ordered those remaining in the small force to withdraw to friendly lines , and although knowing that he had no chance of survival , he chose to remain with one man who could not be moved due to the seriousness of his wounds . The last radio transmission from Captain Graham reported that he was being assaulted by a force of twenty - five enemy ; he died while protecting himself and the wounded man he chose not to abandon . Captain Graham ' s actions throughout the day were a series of heroic achievements . His outstanding courage , superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit undoubtedly saved the second platoon from annihilation and reflected great credit upon himself , the Marine Corps , and the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . / S / LYNDON B . JOHNSON