US Navy Seaman 1st Class James Allen Graham was born in Pensacola, Florida on April 15, 1925, the son of Frederick Graham (1881-1950) and Harriet Elizabeth Dockens (1890-1978). His parents were married in 1907 and the family lived in and around Ward's Mill and Old Reilly's Field between Davisville and Wardville. These old communities are in northern Escambia County, Florida just below the state line. His father supported his family as a farmer for the most part except during the Great Depression when he was a laborer in President Roosevelts W.P.A. program as a laborer on a road construction crew.
His mother was the daughter of James A. Dockens and Amanda O. Nelson. Her father was a private in the Confederate 29th Alabama Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. His regiment was organized at Pensacola in February 1862 and remained in here till it was evacuated. At that time, they marched north to Pollard and encamped for over a year. Ordered to Mobile from July 1863 till April 1864, they joined the Army of Tennessee at Resaca during the Atlanta Campaign. At that time, they would fight in the battle of Resaca (losing 100 killed and wounded), New Hope, and Peachtree Creek where they were decimated. On July 28, in the Battle of Atlanta, half of his regiment was killed or wounded. After General John Bell Hood took command, they marched into Tennessee and into the bloodbath of Franklin and Nashville. They would surrender at Greensboro, N.C. after the Battles of Kinston and Bentonville with only 90 men left.
James would enlist in the US Navy on December 15, 1941, the week after Pearl Harbor. He was sent to the destroyer DD-363 USS Balch on May 27, 1942, which is where his official records end. We know that he was killed in action (awarded Purple Heart) on August 18, 1943, but in what action or on what ship is unknown. He was listed as "missing in action" but no newspaper articles were ever located to explain the circumstances.
There is a gravestone located at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery however, his remains were never recovered. His name is also located on a plaque outside the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Hopefully, someone from the family will be able to fill in the blanks on the sacrifice made by this young man so that he may be honored!
