F1C George Vincent McGraw (WWII)

F1C George Vincent McGraw (service #2583016) was born February 3, 1916 in Rachel, WV to James and Mary Katherine McGraw. The 1930 census sees 14 year old George living at 239 Cottage Avenue in Monongah, WV. 

He attended high school for two years before dropping out to join the Navy in 1940. In the 1940 census, he is listed as working as a coal miner and living with his older brother, Ernie McGraw (the Navy Casualties book lists Ernie's address as Rachel).

At the time of his death, George was serving as a Firefighter 1st Class on the U.S.S. California on base in Pearl Harbor. During the attack, it was hit by two torpedoes and two bombs, which caused it to slowly sink even as her crew tried to counter-flood the ship to prevent it from capsizing. George was one of 98 casualties from the U.S.S. California.

The U.S.S. California was later repaired and put back into service.

F1C McGraw was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously and is honored at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, as well as the Veteran's Memorial in Monongah, WV. 

To this day, and despite the best efforts of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, George remains unidentified.

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