Calvin Leon Graham (April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II and was one of the few known child soldiers to fight on behalf of the United States in the conflict.
Navy Veteran Calvin Leon Graham became the youngest World War II soldier at the age of 12, and the youngest recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. During World War II, it was not unusual for American boys to lie about their age in order to enlist.
1. Calvin Graham. Calvin Graham is the youngest soldier to serve in World War 2! Calvin was 12-years-old when he fought in WW2.
In 1942, Seaman Calvin Graham was decorated for valor in battle. Then his mother learned where he'd been and revealed his secret to the Navy.
The youngest American to serve in World War 2, Calvin Graham lied his way into the Navy at 12 years old in 1942, eventually earning the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Momčilo Gavrić was the youngest soldier in WW1 at age 8.
The only reason he survived was because he was away from his home at the time. With no home or family, Momčilo Gavrić joined the 6th Artillery Division of the Royal Serbian Army in 1914.
Momčilo Gavrić, in Serbian military from age eight; youngest soldier in World War I in any of the nations which fought in World War I. John Condon, from Waterford, Ireland: incorrectly believed to have been the youngest Allied soldier killed (age 14), but later found to have been age 18 at his death.
The draft was specifically designed to trigger volunteer enlistments before age 18 1/2 had been reached. Volunteers were allowed to enlist as early as age 17 (with parental consent) & were required to serve for 3 years on active duty followed by 3 years as inactive reservists.
No one under the age of seventeen legally joined the armed forces of the United States during World War Two. There is no record of their underage service. Anyone who served under the United States flag was eighteen, seventeen with parental consent.
Nearly 250,000 teenagers would join the call to fight. The motives varied and often overlapped - many were gripped by patriotic fervour, sought escape from grim conditions at home or wanted adventure. Technically the boys had to be 19 to fight but the law did not prevent 14-year-olds and upwards from joining in droves.
Soldier Boy (Russian: Солдатик, romanized: Soldatik) is a 2019 Russian-language film. It is based on the real-life story of the youngest soldier in World War II, Sergei Aleshkov, who was only 6 years old. Although he was only 6 years old he achieved many things as a soldier,racking up nearly 300 confirmed kills.
Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism.
Obituary. Lawrence Nathaniel “Honey” Brooks, the oldest known US WWII veteran at age 112, was born on September 12, 1909, in Norwood, LA. He departed this earthly home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
Graham was sworn into the Navy on Aug. 15, 1942, at 12 years old, making him the youngest person to enlist during World War II. After training, he was sent to serve in the Pacific as a gunner aboard the USS South Dakota.
Calvin Leon Graham (April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II and was one of the few known child soldiers to fight on behalf of the United States in the conflict.
'I would do it all over' | America's youngest WWII veteran was sent to war at age 14. After finishing 7th grade in 1944 he signed up for the draft, claiming to be 18. At six feet tall, no one questioned his age.
The US ratified the treaty in 2002 (but as of 2018 U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has not happened). Per OPAC, US military personnel are normally prohibited from direct participation in hostilities until the age of 18.
Being a soldier was seen as a far more glamorous occupation, so when war broke out in 1939 and a desperate recruitment drive was launched, many young boys were quick to enlist – despite officially having to be 18 to do so.
The average age of the military men who died in Vietnam was 22.8 years old. Of the one hundred and one (101) 18 year old draftees who died in Vietnam; seven of them were black. Blacks accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam.
11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old. Of those killed, 17,539 were married. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years E1: 525; 20.34 years Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
Joseph Argenzio, Jr. was just 17 years old when he fought at D-Day. He would go on to live a long life until his death at 82 this past April.
The Allies won World War 1.
After a long four years at war, The Allies won the war. The Allies were also known as The Entente Powers.
Soldier. He enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment in August 1915 at the age of twelve, and fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, then aged thirteen. In the 106th Machine Gun Company of the Machine Gun Corps he fought in the Battle of Delville Wood which saw some of the worst casualties on the Somme.
Although boys aged 14-17 could enlist as buglers, trumpeters and musicians, many gave false ages in order to join as soldiers. Their numbers are impossible to determine. Enlistment of boys was normal practice for the Navy and several died on service during the First World War.