Reed Graves (1898–1944) is a US Army officer who served in the Philippines during World War II. He fought the Japanese in Digos at Cotabato-Davao Sector of Mindanao Force. He became POW when all Filipino and American troops surrendered on May 12, 1942. He died at sea when USS Shark torpedoed Arisan Maru that killed 1,782 POWs and civilians aboard.
Reed Graves | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 13, 1898 Pennsylvania, United States |
| Disappeared | October 24, 1944 Arisan Maru (Hell Ship) at Sea |
| Died | October 24, 1944 (aged 46) At sea |
| Buried | Manila American Cemetery and Memorial |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Service number | O-015795 |
| Unit | 101st Infantry Division (Philippines) 81st Infantry Division (Philippines) |
| Commands | 101st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) Philippine Army |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Digos |
| Awards |
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| Spouse(s) |
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Background
editGraves was born on October 13, 1898, to parents Edwin Darius Sr. and Florence Reed Graves in Pennsylvania. He had a brother who served in the Navy and reached the rank of a captain.
Military service
editHe attended US Military Academy at WestPoint, New York in 1920 and graduated in 1924. He was commissioned second lieutenant with Coast Artillery Corps.
Graves was sent to the Philippines to help train Philippine Army soldiers in preparation of their independence. He was attached to 81st Infantry Division based in Bohol Province in the Visayas Islands. He moved to Mindanao when 81st Division was ordered to Mindanao. Brigadier General Guy O. Fort commander of the 81st Division assigned Major Graves as liaison to Civilian Public Authority ensuring their functions are fulfilled during Japanese invasion.[1]
He was transferred to 101st Infantry Division at Cotabato-Davao Sector and commanded 101st Field Artillery Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.[2] His regiment was shifted to infantry when no artillery guns reached them. He replaced Lieutenant Colonel John H. McGee as commander of Digos subsector and fought Muira detachment.
In May 1942, Japanese reinforcement and landed in three sides of Mindanao Island and gained grounds.
Death
editAmerican POWs were transferred to mainland Japan with hell ships, Graves along with other POWs and civilian internees was aboard Arisan Maru when USS Shark (SS-314), a submarine, torpedoed and sank it. He was among the missing people aboard the ship. He was declared missing and proclaimed dead. He was included in the memoriam in the Walls of the missing at American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "MacArthur Microfilms" (PDF).
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Tarkington, Hiram (November 1941 – May 1942). There Were Others. pp. 81–82.