Charles I. Graves.
Of Picayune, MS.
The man.
Enlisted USAAC Aug. 20, 1941. Trained at Keesler Aircraft Technical School (graduated March 1942). Assigned to 93rd Bomb Group; moved to Ft. Myers, FL, then Alconbury, England (Aug. 31, 1942), and finally Hardwick Air Base for the duration.
Promoted multiple times, ultimately to Crew Chief with rating of Tech. Sergeant. Received Bronze Star, two Presidential Group Citations, four European Campaign Stars, and one African Theatre Campaign Award.
Service record.
Before and after.
Born Nov. 4, 1919 in Picayune, MS. Enlisted in USAAC Aug. 20, 1941 at Camp Shelby, MS. Entered Keesler Aircraft Technical School, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS in 1941; graduated March 1942. Assigned to 93rd Bomb Group at Barksdale Field, then Ft. Myers, FL.
Left military Aug. 31, 1945. Joined Delta Airlines in October 1945 in operations; promoted to station manager, serving 28 years in Haiti, Ohio, Missouri, and Indiana. Retired April 1, 1982 after 37 years with Delta. Married Jane Blake (Delta Stewardess) from Texas. Five children, two grandchildren. Lives in Knoxville, TN.