Beech Tree News Network

“The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedom that we enjoy.  They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.” 

Judd Gregg, former Governor and US Senator

Like a lot of young men in the 60s, Doyle Graham was drafted in the U.S. Army.  He entered on May 4, 1966, and was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia for basic training.  He was later sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas for mortar and personnel training.  

In January of 1967, in the 2nd of the 47th Division, 9th Infantry, HQ Co., he was sent to Vietnam until January of 1968.  

During the Vietnam War, we watched the evening news daily for the body count, we saw film of the battles of that day.  It was so depressing.  Vietnam was a succession of bummers.  Besides the never ending fear of death, they had to endure a host of miseries; merciless treks through a sun scorched landscape packing eighty pounds on their backs, rain-boiling heat, hot house humidity, dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn, red dust, torrential rains, boot-sucking mud, blood-sucking leeches, steaming jungles, malaria, dysentery, razor-sharp elephant grass, bush sores, jungle rot, moaning and groaning, meals in green cans, armies of insects, fire ants, poisonous centipedes, flies, mosquitoes, bush snakes, vipers, scorpions, rats, incoming fire, body bags, and a thousand more discomforts.

Over 58,000 men died in Vietnam.  This nation has been a long time properly acknowledging the service of the Vietnam veterans.  We finally built a monument in Washington, D.C., to honor the dead and fallen.  It is awesome.  And here in our state capital, Frankfort, Kentucky we have built a work of art to honor our 1,069 fallen or missing-in-action veterans.  We can never do enough.

When the WW II Veterans came home, they were given a New York ticker tape parade.  They were heroes and were made to feel like heroes.  

When the Vietnam Veterans came home, they also were heroes but, they were spat upon, had rotten eggs thrown at them by the American citizens who disagreed with the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon reasons for being there. 

The young men who lost their youth, sometimes their future, deserved better treatment, because they had no choice but to go, and serve where they were directed. 

After returning to the U. S., Sgt. Graham spent his last three months at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. 

Sgt. Doyle Graham is the son of Nennis and Lydia Graham; husband of JoDean Graham for 54 years; father of Steven Lee Graham and Stacy Michelle Rice.  He has six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

Cynthia Qzick, short story writer 

The Green River Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to honor our Veteran of the Year 2024, Sgt. Doyle Graham.  On Saturday, November 9, 2024, a reception will be held at the Morgantown Elementary School Cafeteria immediately following the Veteran’s Parade.  Everyone is invited.    Doloris McKinney, Veteran Chair GRCNSDAR