US Army Corporal Don Juan Warren Graphenreed was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on December 1, 1927, however his family had ties with Escambia County prior to relocating to California. Little is known about his early life but we do know that he enlisted in the US Navy on July 16, 1945 just weeks prior to Japan's surrender in WWII. He would serve in the Navy until his discharge on June 22, 1946. But for whatever reason he reenlisted in the US Army on January 38, 1948 and then reenlisted for another tour of duty on December 1, 1949. He was assigned to Headquarters Battery of the 503rd Field Artillery Battalion serving with the 2nd Infantry Division. This unit was only one of the two all African American units attached to the 2nd Division. This unit had already been bloodied during the horrendous fighting that took place in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir two months earlier.
On February 11, 1951, the North Korean Army launched a counteroffensive against the 8th South Korean Division with three divisions. The enemy inflicted devastating casualties against the 8th Division just north of Hoengsong, which gave the battle its name. As their allies disintegrated, the American armored and artillery forces supporting them found themselves on the front line without infantry support. THus, they were forced to retreat along a single road through the twisting valley north of Hoengsong. Outflanked by the North Koreans, hundreds of American soldiers were killed during the night. By 01:00 AM of February 12th, all communications were out as escape routes became blocked and units became separated and surrounded. The rearward routes of those not already trapped, steadily disintegrated into every man for themselves. It was during this chaotic retreat that Corporal Graphenreed was killed in action.
This action proved to be the worst defeat for the United Nation forces during the entire Korean War. It was not until March 7th before American forces could return to the Hoengsong area. The battle scene remained as it was when they left it. Overturned trucks and jeeps were still smoking Hundreds of soldiers still lay in the road, rice paddies, or in the cabs of the trucks that had not caught on fire. Some of them had been stripped naked by enemy soldiers. Inside the trucks were soldiers still behind the wheel or hanging out the doors. Morbidly, it became known as "Massacre Valley" as their bodies were collected for burial. Total casualties suffered between the time of the initial enemy attack on February 11th and the morning of the 13th was approximately 12,000 South Koreans, 2,000 Americans and 100 Dutch. Equipment losses were also extremely heavy both in medium and heavy artillery and vehicles. His wife Odessa was notified by telegram of her husband's death.
Graphenreed's body was recovered and buried in a military cemetery along with so many of his comrades. On November 23, 1951, his body was returned to the U.S. and buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California where he rests today.
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