GRAHAM, JAMES SCOTT
Remains Returned 14 August 1985

Name: James Scott Graham
Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy
Unit: USS ENTERPRISE
Date of Birth: 25 October 1941
Home City of Record: Ardmore PA
Date of Loss: 04 May 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 194523N 1955231E (WG907838)
Status (in 1973): Prisoner of War
Category: 1
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4C

Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: GOOD CHUTE - WAVED IN DESCENT

SYNOPSIS: When nuclear powered USS ENTERPRISE arrived on Yankee Station on
December 2, 1965, she was the largest warship ever built. She brought with her
not only an imposing physical presence, but also an impressive component of
warplanes and the newest technology. By the end of her first week of combat
operations, the ENTERPRISE had set a record of 165 combat sorties in a single
day, surpassing the KITTY HAWK's 131. By the end of her first combat cruise, her
air wing had flown over 13,000 combat sorties. The record had not been achieved
without cost.

One of the aircraft that launched from the decks of the ENTERPRISE was the
McDonnell Douglas A4 Skyhawk was intended to provide the Navy and Marine Corps
with an inexpensive, lightweight attack and ground support aircraft. The design
emphasized low-speed control and stability during take-off and landing, as well
as strength enough for catapult launch and carrier landings. The plane was so
compact that it did not need folding wings for aboardship storage and handling.

Lt. James S. Graham was a naval aviator. He had served one tour of Vietnam
onboard the USS KITTY HAWK when he deployed to Vietnam as an A4C Skyhawk on the
ENTERPRISE. On May 4, 1967, Graham and another aircraft launched on a combat
mission over Thanh Hoa Province, near the city of Thanh Hoa, one of the points
of what was referred to as the "Iron Triangle." This was also the location of
the famed "Dragon Jaw" bridge which had been the object of many joint-service
attacks in the two previous years. The mission was Graham's 172nd combat sortie.

Graham's aircraft was hit by enemy fire during the mission, and he successfully
ejected. His wingman, risking the fire of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs)
followed Graham in and watched his descent. Graham waved to him as he parachuted
into some trees. When the wingman circled around, Graham was gone.

Without question, more information was received by the U.S. Government about
James S. Graham. He was classified Prisoner of War -- a category not assigned
without reason. His parents patiently waited for the war to end, never hearing
a word from their son.

In 1973, 591 lucky Americans were released from Vietnamese prisoner of war camps
and returned home. Jim Graham was not among them. Military officials had been
prepared for hundreds more who were known or suspected to be held prisoner. The
Graham family was told that returning POWs did not see their son in captivity.

Intelligence reports surfacing over the years during the war and following build
a strong case for a well-organized second prison system, and a well-orchestrated
plan to keep prisoners within systems from intermingling. As it is widely
believed that the Vietnamese withheld the release of many prisoners until peace
agreement terms were met (specifically, reconstruction aid), it is logical to
assume that one prison system's inmates were released while another were held
back for possible release at a later date. It is also logical to assume that the
scenario might be played to its fullest, including convincing each man in a two
man crew that had been separated, that the other was dead.

Ultimately, the U.S. Government declared that Graham must have been killed in
captivity, since there was no proof that he was alive.

In 1984, Jim Graham's father died, never knowing the fate of his son.

In 1985, the Vietnamese "discovered" and returned the remains of James S.
Graham. Mrs. Graham said, "It's quite a blow. If it's over, I suppose it's a
relief. On the other hand, it's just like losing him all over again." At last,
Graham's family could begin a grieving period, without doubt and questions.

Over 2300 Americans remain missing, prisoner or otherwise unaccounted for from
the Vietnam war. Nearly 10,000 reports received relating to these men have
convinced many authorities that hundreds of them are still alive waiting for
their country to secure their freedom. If so, what must they be thinking of us?
It's time we brought our men home.


