ERNEST OLIVER GRAFTON was born in Goff, Nemaha, KS on 12 May 1924. He was the youngest child of five born to Charles Richard and Florence Elizabeth (Brown) Grafton who married about 1909. Charles' first wife, Lyda Eliza (Argenbright), mother of six children, died in 1907. His half-siblings were Angeline Bell "Angie" (1894-1969), William B. (1895-1968), Eleanor Blanche (1897 – 1946), Carl (1899 – 1986), Mattie (1902 – 1902), and Pearl (about 1904 -?)
The family suffered two unexpected losses with the death of Charles in 1929 and mother Florence presumably in the early 1930s. Otis and Archie lived in Horton, Brown, KS in 1935. Ernest was in "rural" Kansas at the same time. Ironically, Earnest found his way from possibly Horton, KS to Burr Oak, Doniphan, KS, a distance of almost 170 miles, where he was taken in as a "homeless boy" by Mr and Mrs William Schuler according to the 1940 Burr Oak US census. The Schulers were parents of four sons. One son, Norman Frank Schuler, was about to rejoin the US Navy in Bremerton, WA. Norman was killed in action on 19 Feb 1942 during the sinking of USS Peary in the bay at Port Darwin, Australia.
Not long after the 1940 census, Ernest moved to Kansas City, MO to live with his half sister, Blanche Grafton Murphy. While there he returned to school. Previously, Ernest only completed the sixth grade. Shortly after he finished the school year in June 1941, Ernest, who had just turned 17, submitted an enlistment application to join the US Navy. His was considered a minority application because he was under the age of 21. It is presumed that his sister became his legal guardian in order to give her permission for him to enlist. After completing the necessary testing, paperwork, physical and dental exams Ernest enlisted on 24 Jun 1941 in the US Navy for four years at the beginning rate of Apprentice Seaman (NSN:342-49-06) at the Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Kansas City, Jackson, MO. Ernest boarded the train in Kansas City later that day and traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS) Great Lakes, IL for about 8 weeks of basic training.
After completing basic training, AS Grafton was granted 10 days of leave to return home to visit family and friends before returning to NTS Great Lakes for his orders to either a service school or ship of the US Fleet. He transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Miami, FL and reported for duty on 07 Sep 1941. It is presumed that Grafton began training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. On 24 Oct 1941, Grafton advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). There are no documents to confirm that he entered formal training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, however, there are several photos of him and his wife. In both photos he was wearing an Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class (AMM3c) rating badge on his left sleeve. On 20 Mar 1942, Grafton, 17 years old, married 15 year old Evelyn Christine Morris in Collier county, Florida.
Later that year, Grafton detached from NAS Miami reporting for duty on board the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV-4) on 18 Dec 1942. Ranger underwent overhaul at Norfolk from 16 December to 7 February 1943. After work was complete, she transported 75 P-40-L Army pursuit planes to Africa. She then patrolled and trained pilots along the New England coast steaming as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. On 11 August, she departed Halifax to join the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, Scotland, arriving 19 August. While there, Ranger patrolled the approaches to the British Isles.
On 2 October, Ranger departed Scapa Flow to attack German shipping in the Norwegian port of Bodo. Before dawn on 4 October, the task force reached launch position off Vestfjord undetected. Shortly thereafter, Ranger launched 20 Dauntless dive bombers and an escort of eight Wildcat fighters. A group of the dive bombers attacked the 8,000-ton freighter La Plata, while the rest continued north to attack a German convoy. The attackers severely damaged a 10,000-ton tanker and a smaller troop transport. In addition, they sank two German merchantmen. A second attack group launched from the deck of Ranger—10 Avengers and six Wildcats—destroyed an enemy freighter and a small coaster and bombed a troop transport ship. During the operation, only three of Ranger's aircraft were lost to antiaircraft fire. Later that afternoon, the German aircraft located Ranger, but of the three enemy aircraft that attacked, two were shot down and the other was driven off. Ranger returned to Scapa Flow on 6 October.
While in company with the British, Ranger patrolled the waters of Iceland for about a month-and-a-half, and then departed Hvalfjord for Boston arriving on 4 December (Naval History and Heritage command).
S2c Grafton detached from Ranger in Boston, MA on 21 Dec 1943. He traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, RI for further transfer to the new aircraft carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13). While in Newport, Grafton attended the new Large Ship Pre-Commissioning Training Center at the NTS, Newport; the first US Navy personnel assigned to this new training program. More than 3,000 men trained to serve on Franklin. This program sought to bring a crew together so its members could start their training prior to the completion and commissioning of the ship. In all, an average of 85 percent of a ship's crew would meet in Newport to start training, attending such schools as firefighting, damage control, gunnery, cargo handling, and engineering.
During the Pre-Commissioning Program that ran from November 1943 until it ended on December 21, 1946, more than 300,000 sailors passed through the NTS on their way to the newest ships in the Navy.1
The Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13), commissioned on January 31, 1944, affectionately known by her crew as Big Ben, departed on 5 May 1944 for the Caribbean and a shakedown cruise. After completing her training in the Caribbean, Franklin steamed through the Panama Canal arriving 16 May in San Diego where she joined Task Force 27.7. She loaded supplies while her air group worked feverishly to perfect their dive bombing and torpedo bombing skills. She departed for the war zone on 31 May 1944 with 90 aircraft and almost 3500 men. She steamed to Pearl Harbor arriving on 5 Jun, then Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands on 23 Jun, where she joined Vice Admiral Spruance's 5th fleet.
She participated in the Mariana Island Campaign where her aircraft provided aerial strikes for landing forces at Bonin Islands, Guam, and Palau Islands. Supporting the Peleliu landing in September, Franklin continued in her supporting role during the landing at Leyte in October, where she also participated in the Battle of Sibuyan Sea and the Battle of Cape Engano during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Under way about 100 miles (160 km) off Samar on 30 October, Franklin spotted enemy Kamikaze bombers. Navy fighters shot down most of the Japanese planes, but six broke through the combat air patrol into Franklin's task group of four carriers defensively surrounded by a circle of about twenty escorting cruisers and destroyers. Shipboard anti-aircraft guns shot down several of the Kamikazes that were diving toward the four carriers; but the one targeting Franklin hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. As the remaining kamikazes attacked, one was shot down by anti-aircraft guns and the second missed Franklin with two bombs before being shot down by the light carrier, USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). Unfortunately, the Kamikaze plane fell on Belleau Wood 's flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the conflagration could be brought under control, 92 men had either died or were missing.
S2c Grafton was one of the 56 men killed on Big Ben. Grafton's remains were committed to the sea at formal ceremonies the following day. Although he died on 30 Oct and was buried at sea, Grafton was considered missing in action because his remains were not brought home. His wife and family were notified of his death in early January 1945 according to newspaper accounts. Ernest's son, William Ernest Grafton (1944-2022), was born on 04 Nov 1944 just four days after his father's death.
S2c Grafton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon (presumed eligible), American Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Fleet clasp and three campaign stars (one star in lieu of Fleet Clasp) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
This bio sketch incorporates excerpts from the USS Franklin (CV-13) War Damage Report No.56 published 15 Sept 1946. Naval History and Heritage Command.
-------------------------------
Seaman Second Class Grafton's wife received a commemoration from President Truman. It reads:
In grateful memory of Ernest Oliver GRAFTON, United States Navy, who died in the service of his country, at SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. FRANKLIN, 30 October 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Signed, Harry S. Truman
President of the United States
---------------------
Combat Action Ribbon note:
See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019. Chapter 2:
3a (3) Personnel aboard a ship are eligible when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements. Eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
---------------------
[Bio#396 composed on18 Oct 2022 by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)]
Military Hall of Honor ID: #139051
~
Entered the service from Kansas.
~
1. Kennedy, John W. The Naval Training Station at Newport: A Place in U.S. Naval History. The online Review of Rhode Island History.
http://smallstatebighistory.com/naval-training-station-newport-place-u-s-naval-history/
The family suffered two unexpected losses with the death of Charles in 1929 and mother Florence presumably in the early 1930s. Otis and Archie lived in Horton, Brown, KS in 1935. Ernest was in "rural" Kansas at the same time. Ironically, Earnest found his way from possibly Horton, KS to Burr Oak, Doniphan, KS, a distance of almost 170 miles, where he was taken in as a "homeless boy" by Mr and Mrs William Schuler according to the 1940 Burr Oak US census. The Schulers were parents of four sons. One son, Norman Frank Schuler, was about to rejoin the US Navy in Bremerton, WA. Norman was killed in action on 19 Feb 1942 during the sinking of USS Peary in the bay at Port Darwin, Australia.
Not long after the 1940 census, Ernest moved to Kansas City, MO to live with his half sister, Blanche Grafton Murphy. While there he returned to school. Previously, Ernest only completed the sixth grade. Shortly after he finished the school year in June 1941, Ernest, who had just turned 17, submitted an enlistment application to join the US Navy. His was considered a minority application because he was under the age of 21. It is presumed that his sister became his legal guardian in order to give her permission for him to enlist. After completing the necessary testing, paperwork, physical and dental exams Ernest enlisted on 24 Jun 1941 in the US Navy for four years at the beginning rate of Apprentice Seaman (NSN:342-49-06) at the Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Kansas City, Jackson, MO. Ernest boarded the train in Kansas City later that day and traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS) Great Lakes, IL for about 8 weeks of basic training.
After completing basic training, AS Grafton was granted 10 days of leave to return home to visit family and friends before returning to NTS Great Lakes for his orders to either a service school or ship of the US Fleet. He transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Miami, FL and reported for duty on 07 Sep 1941. It is presumed that Grafton began training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. On 24 Oct 1941, Grafton advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). There are no documents to confirm that he entered formal training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, however, there are several photos of him and his wife. In both photos he was wearing an Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class (AMM3c) rating badge on his left sleeve. On 20 Mar 1942, Grafton, 17 years old, married 15 year old Evelyn Christine Morris in Collier county, Florida.
Later that year, Grafton detached from NAS Miami reporting for duty on board the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV-4) on 18 Dec 1942. Ranger underwent overhaul at Norfolk from 16 December to 7 February 1943. After work was complete, she transported 75 P-40-L Army pursuit planes to Africa. She then patrolled and trained pilots along the New England coast steaming as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. On 11 August, she departed Halifax to join the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, Scotland, arriving 19 August. While there, Ranger patrolled the approaches to the British Isles.
On 2 October, Ranger departed Scapa Flow to attack German shipping in the Norwegian port of Bodo. Before dawn on 4 October, the task force reached launch position off Vestfjord undetected. Shortly thereafter, Ranger launched 20 Dauntless dive bombers and an escort of eight Wildcat fighters. A group of the dive bombers attacked the 8,000-ton freighter La Plata, while the rest continued north to attack a German convoy. The attackers severely damaged a 10,000-ton tanker and a smaller troop transport. In addition, they sank two German merchantmen. A second attack group launched from the deck of Ranger—10 Avengers and six Wildcats—destroyed an enemy freighter and a small coaster and bombed a troop transport ship. During the operation, only three of Ranger's aircraft were lost to antiaircraft fire. Later that afternoon, the German aircraft located Ranger, but of the three enemy aircraft that attacked, two were shot down and the other was driven off. Ranger returned to Scapa Flow on 6 October.
While in company with the British, Ranger patrolled the waters of Iceland for about a month-and-a-half, and then departed Hvalfjord for Boston arriving on 4 December (Naval History and Heritage command).
S2c Grafton detached from Ranger in Boston, MA on 21 Dec 1943. He traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, RI for further transfer to the new aircraft carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13). While in Newport, Grafton attended the new Large Ship Pre-Commissioning Training Center at the NTS, Newport; the first US Navy personnel assigned to this new training program. More than 3,000 men trained to serve on Franklin. This program sought to bring a crew together so its members could start their training prior to the completion and commissioning of the ship. In all, an average of 85 percent of a ship's crew would meet in Newport to start training, attending such schools as firefighting, damage control, gunnery, cargo handling, and engineering.
During the Pre-Commissioning Program that ran from November 1943 until it ended on December 21, 1946, more than 300,000 sailors passed through the NTS on their way to the newest ships in the Navy.1
The Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13), commissioned on January 31, 1944, affectionately known by her crew as Big Ben, departed on 5 May 1944 for the Caribbean and a shakedown cruise. After completing her training in the Caribbean, Franklin steamed through the Panama Canal arriving 16 May in San Diego where she joined Task Force 27.7. She loaded supplies while her air group worked feverishly to perfect their dive bombing and torpedo bombing skills. She departed for the war zone on 31 May 1944 with 90 aircraft and almost 3500 men. She steamed to Pearl Harbor arriving on 5 Jun, then Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands on 23 Jun, where she joined Vice Admiral Spruance's 5th fleet.
She participated in the Mariana Island Campaign where her aircraft provided aerial strikes for landing forces at Bonin Islands, Guam, and Palau Islands. Supporting the Peleliu landing in September, Franklin continued in her supporting role during the landing at Leyte in October, where she also participated in the Battle of Sibuyan Sea and the Battle of Cape Engano during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Under way about 100 miles (160 km) off Samar on 30 October, Franklin spotted enemy Kamikaze bombers. Navy fighters shot down most of the Japanese planes, but six broke through the combat air patrol into Franklin's task group of four carriers defensively surrounded by a circle of about twenty escorting cruisers and destroyers. Shipboard anti-aircraft guns shot down several of the Kamikazes that were diving toward the four carriers; but the one targeting Franklin hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. As the remaining kamikazes attacked, one was shot down by anti-aircraft guns and the second missed Franklin with two bombs before being shot down by the light carrier, USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). Unfortunately, the Kamikaze plane fell on Belleau Wood 's flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the conflagration could be brought under control, 92 men had either died or were missing.
S2c Grafton was one of the 56 men killed on Big Ben. Grafton's remains were committed to the sea at formal ceremonies the following day. Although he died on 30 Oct and was buried at sea, Grafton was considered missing in action because his remains were not brought home. His wife and family were notified of his death in early January 1945 according to newspaper accounts. Ernest's son, William Ernest Grafton (1944-2022), was born on 04 Nov 1944 just four days after his father's death.
S2c Grafton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon (presumed eligible), American Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Fleet clasp and three campaign stars (one star in lieu of Fleet Clasp) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
This bio sketch incorporates excerpts from the USS Franklin (CV-13) War Damage Report No.56 published 15 Sept 1946. Naval History and Heritage Command.
-------------------------------
Seaman Second Class Grafton's wife received a commemoration from President Truman. It reads:
In grateful memory of Ernest Oliver GRAFTON, United States Navy, who died in the service of his country, at SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. FRANKLIN, 30 October 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Signed, Harry S. Truman
President of the United States
---------------------
Combat Action Ribbon note:
See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019. Chapter 2:
3a (3) Personnel aboard a ship are eligible when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements. Eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
---------------------
[Bio#396 composed on18 Oct 2022 by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)]
Military Hall of Honor ID: #139051
~
Entered the service from Kansas.
~
1. Kennedy, John W. The Naval Training Station at Newport: A Place in U.S. Naval History. The online Review of Rhode Island History.
http://smallstatebighistory.com/naval-training-station-newport-place-u-s-naval-history/
ERNEST OLIVER GRAFTON was born in Goff, Nemaha, KS on 12 May 1924. He was the youngest child of five born to Charles Richard and Florence Elizabeth (Brown) Grafton who married about 1909. Charles' first wife, Lyda Eliza (Argenbright), mother of six children, died in 1907. His half-siblings were Angeline Bell "Angie" (1894-1969), William B. (1895-1968), Eleanor Blanche (1897 – 1946), Carl (1899 – 1986), Mattie (1902 – 1902), and Pearl (about 1904 -?)
The family suffered two unexpected losses with the death of Charles in 1929 and mother Florence presumably in the early 1930s. Otis and Archie lived in Horton, Brown, KS in 1935. Ernest was in "rural" Kansas at the same time. Ironically, Earnest found his way from possibly Horton, KS to Burr Oak, Doniphan, KS, a distance of almost 170 miles, where he was taken in as a "homeless boy" by Mr and Mrs William Schuler according to the 1940 Burr Oak US census. The Schulers were parents of four sons. One son, Norman Frank Schuler, was about to rejoin the US Navy in Bremerton, WA. Norman was killed in action on 19 Feb 1942 during the sinking of USS Peary in the bay at Port Darwin, Australia.
Not long after the 1940 census, Ernest moved to Kansas City, MO to live with his half sister, Blanche Grafton Murphy. While there he returned to school. Previously, Ernest only completed the sixth grade. Shortly after he finished the school year in June 1941, Ernest, who had just turned 17, submitted an enlistment application to join the US Navy. His was considered a minority application because he was under the age of 21. It is presumed that his sister became his legal guardian in order to give her permission for him to enlist. After completing the necessary testing, paperwork, physical and dental exams Ernest enlisted on 24 Jun 1941 in the US Navy for four years at the beginning rate of Apprentice Seaman (NSN:342-49-06) at the Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Kansas City, Jackson, MO. Ernest boarded the train in Kansas City later that day and traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS) Great Lakes, IL for about 8 weeks of basic training.
After completing basic training, AS Grafton was granted 10 days of leave to return home to visit family and friends before returning to NTS Great Lakes for his orders to either a service school or ship of the US Fleet. He transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Miami, FL and reported for duty on 07 Sep 1941. It is presumed that Grafton began training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. On 24 Oct 1941, Grafton advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). There are no documents to confirm that he entered formal training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, however, there are several photos of him and his wife. In both photos he was wearing an Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class (AMM3c) rating badge on his left sleeve. On 20 Mar 1942, Grafton, 17 years old, married 15 year old Evelyn Christine Morris in Collier county, Florida.
Later that year, Grafton detached from NAS Miami reporting for duty on board the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV-4) on 18 Dec 1942. Ranger underwent overhaul at Norfolk from 16 December to 7 February 1943. After work was complete, she transported 75 P-40-L Army pursuit planes to Africa. She then patrolled and trained pilots along the New England coast steaming as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. On 11 August, she departed Halifax to join the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, Scotland, arriving 19 August. While there, Ranger patrolled the approaches to the British Isles.
On 2 October, Ranger departed Scapa Flow to attack German shipping in the Norwegian port of Bodo. Before dawn on 4 October, the task force reached launch position off Vestfjord undetected. Shortly thereafter, Ranger launched 20 Dauntless dive bombers and an escort of eight Wildcat fighters. A group of the dive bombers attacked the 8,000-ton freighter La Plata, while the rest continued north to attack a German convoy. The attackers severely damaged a 10,000-ton tanker and a smaller troop transport. In addition, they sank two German merchantmen. A second attack group launched from the deck of Ranger—10 Avengers and six Wildcats—destroyed an enemy freighter and a small coaster and bombed a troop transport ship. During the operation, only three of Ranger's aircraft were lost to antiaircraft fire. Later that afternoon, the German aircraft located Ranger, but of the three enemy aircraft that attacked, two were shot down and the other was driven off. Ranger returned to Scapa Flow on 6 October.
While in company with the British, Ranger patrolled the waters of Iceland for about a month-and-a-half, and then departed Hvalfjord for Boston arriving on 4 December (Naval History and Heritage command).
S2c Grafton detached from Ranger in Boston, MA on 21 Dec 1943. He traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, RI for further transfer to the new aircraft carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13). While in Newport, Grafton attended the new Large Ship Pre-Commissioning Training Center at the NTS, Newport; the first US Navy personnel assigned to this new training program. More than 3,000 men trained to serve on Franklin. This program sought to bring a crew together so its members could start their training prior to the completion and commissioning of the ship. In all, an average of 85 percent of a ship's crew would meet in Newport to start training, attending such schools as firefighting, damage control, gunnery, cargo handling, and engineering.
During the Pre-Commissioning Program that ran from November 1943 until it ended on December 21, 1946, more than 300,000 sailors passed through the NTS on their way to the newest ships in the Navy.1
The Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13), commissioned on January 31, 1944, affectionately known by her crew as Big Ben, departed on 5 May 1944 for the Caribbean and a shakedown cruise. After completing her training in the Caribbean, Franklin steamed through the Panama Canal arriving 16 May in San Diego where she joined Task Force 27.7. She loaded supplies while her air group worked feverishly to perfect their dive bombing and torpedo bombing skills. She departed for the war zone on 31 May 1944 with 90 aircraft and almost 3500 men. She steamed to Pearl Harbor arriving on 5 Jun, then Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands on 23 Jun, where she joined Vice Admiral Spruance's 5th fleet.
She participated in the Mariana Island Campaign where her aircraft provided aerial strikes for landing forces at Bonin Islands, Guam, and Palau Islands. Supporting the Peleliu landing in September, Franklin continued in her supporting role during the landing at Leyte in October, where she also participated in the Battle of Sibuyan Sea and the Battle of Cape Engano during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Under way about 100 miles (160 km) off Samar on 30 October, Franklin spotted enemy Kamikaze bombers. Navy fighters shot down most of the Japanese planes, but six broke through the combat air patrol into Franklin's task group of four carriers defensively surrounded by a circle of about twenty escorting cruisers and destroyers. Shipboard anti-aircraft guns shot down several of the Kamikazes that were diving toward the four carriers; but the one targeting Franklin hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. As the remaining kamikazes attacked, one was shot down by anti-aircraft guns and the second missed Franklin with two bombs before being shot down by the light carrier, USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). Unfortunately, the Kamikaze plane fell on Belleau Wood 's flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the conflagration could be brought under control, 92 men had either died or were missing.
S2c Grafton was one of the 56 men killed on Big Ben. Grafton's remains were committed to the sea at formal ceremonies the following day. Although he died on 30 Oct and was buried at sea, Grafton was considered missing in action because his remains were not brought home. His wife and family were notified of his death in early January 1945 according to newspaper accounts. Ernest's son, William Ernest Grafton (1944-2022), was born on 04 Nov 1944 just four days after his father's death.
S2c Grafton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon (presumed eligible), American Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Fleet clasp and three campaign stars (one star in lieu of Fleet Clasp) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
This bio sketch incorporates excerpts from the USS Franklin (CV-13) War Damage Report No.56 published 15 Sept 1946. Naval History and Heritage Command.
-------------------------------
Seaman Second Class Grafton's wife received a commemoration from President Truman. It reads:
In grateful memory of Ernest Oliver GRAFTON, United States Navy, who died in the service of his country, at SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. FRANKLIN, 30 October 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Signed, Harry S. Truman
President of the United States
---------------------
Combat Action Ribbon note:
See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019. Chapter 2:
3a (3) Personnel aboard a ship are eligible when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements. Eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
---------------------
[Bio#396 composed on18 Oct 2022 by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)]
Military Hall of Honor ID: #139051
~
Entered the service from Kansas.
~
1. Kennedy, John W. The Naval Training Station at Newport: A Place in U.S. Naval History. The online Review of Rhode Island History.
http://smallstatebighistory.com/naval-training-station-newport-place-u-s-naval-history/
The family suffered two unexpected losses with the death of Charles in 1929 and mother Florence presumably in the early 1930s. Otis and Archie lived in Horton, Brown, KS in 1935. Ernest was in "rural" Kansas at the same time. Ironically, Earnest found his way from possibly Horton, KS to Burr Oak, Doniphan, KS, a distance of almost 170 miles, where he was taken in as a "homeless boy" by Mr and Mrs William Schuler according to the 1940 Burr Oak US census. The Schulers were parents of four sons. One son, Norman Frank Schuler, was about to rejoin the US Navy in Bremerton, WA. Norman was killed in action on 19 Feb 1942 during the sinking of USS Peary in the bay at Port Darwin, Australia.
Not long after the 1940 census, Ernest moved to Kansas City, MO to live with his half sister, Blanche Grafton Murphy. While there he returned to school. Previously, Ernest only completed the sixth grade. Shortly after he finished the school year in June 1941, Ernest, who had just turned 17, submitted an enlistment application to join the US Navy. His was considered a minority application because he was under the age of 21. It is presumed that his sister became his legal guardian in order to give her permission for him to enlist. After completing the necessary testing, paperwork, physical and dental exams Ernest enlisted on 24 Jun 1941 in the US Navy for four years at the beginning rate of Apprentice Seaman (NSN:342-49-06) at the Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Kansas City, Jackson, MO. Ernest boarded the train in Kansas City later that day and traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS) Great Lakes, IL for about 8 weeks of basic training.
After completing basic training, AS Grafton was granted 10 days of leave to return home to visit family and friends before returning to NTS Great Lakes for his orders to either a service school or ship of the US Fleet. He transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Miami, FL and reported for duty on 07 Sep 1941. It is presumed that Grafton began training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. On 24 Oct 1941, Grafton advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). There are no documents to confirm that he entered formal training as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, however, there are several photos of him and his wife. In both photos he was wearing an Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class (AMM3c) rating badge on his left sleeve. On 20 Mar 1942, Grafton, 17 years old, married 15 year old Evelyn Christine Morris in Collier county, Florida.
Later that year, Grafton detached from NAS Miami reporting for duty on board the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV-4) on 18 Dec 1942. Ranger underwent overhaul at Norfolk from 16 December to 7 February 1943. After work was complete, she transported 75 P-40-L Army pursuit planes to Africa. She then patrolled and trained pilots along the New England coast steaming as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. On 11 August, she departed Halifax to join the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, Scotland, arriving 19 August. While there, Ranger patrolled the approaches to the British Isles.
On 2 October, Ranger departed Scapa Flow to attack German shipping in the Norwegian port of Bodo. Before dawn on 4 October, the task force reached launch position off Vestfjord undetected. Shortly thereafter, Ranger launched 20 Dauntless dive bombers and an escort of eight Wildcat fighters. A group of the dive bombers attacked the 8,000-ton freighter La Plata, while the rest continued north to attack a German convoy. The attackers severely damaged a 10,000-ton tanker and a smaller troop transport. In addition, they sank two German merchantmen. A second attack group launched from the deck of Ranger—10 Avengers and six Wildcats—destroyed an enemy freighter and a small coaster and bombed a troop transport ship. During the operation, only three of Ranger's aircraft were lost to antiaircraft fire. Later that afternoon, the German aircraft located Ranger, but of the three enemy aircraft that attacked, two were shot down and the other was driven off. Ranger returned to Scapa Flow on 6 October.
While in company with the British, Ranger patrolled the waters of Iceland for about a month-and-a-half, and then departed Hvalfjord for Boston arriving on 4 December (Naval History and Heritage command).
S2c Grafton detached from Ranger in Boston, MA on 21 Dec 1943. He traveled to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, RI for further transfer to the new aircraft carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13). While in Newport, Grafton attended the new Large Ship Pre-Commissioning Training Center at the NTS, Newport; the first US Navy personnel assigned to this new training program. More than 3,000 men trained to serve on Franklin. This program sought to bring a crew together so its members could start their training prior to the completion and commissioning of the ship. In all, an average of 85 percent of a ship's crew would meet in Newport to start training, attending such schools as firefighting, damage control, gunnery, cargo handling, and engineering.
During the Pre-Commissioning Program that ran from November 1943 until it ended on December 21, 1946, more than 300,000 sailors passed through the NTS on their way to the newest ships in the Navy.1
The Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin (CV-13), commissioned on January 31, 1944, affectionately known by her crew as Big Ben, departed on 5 May 1944 for the Caribbean and a shakedown cruise. After completing her training in the Caribbean, Franklin steamed through the Panama Canal arriving 16 May in San Diego where she joined Task Force 27.7. She loaded supplies while her air group worked feverishly to perfect their dive bombing and torpedo bombing skills. She departed for the war zone on 31 May 1944 with 90 aircraft and almost 3500 men. She steamed to Pearl Harbor arriving on 5 Jun, then Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands on 23 Jun, where she joined Vice Admiral Spruance's 5th fleet.
She participated in the Mariana Island Campaign where her aircraft provided aerial strikes for landing forces at Bonin Islands, Guam, and Palau Islands. Supporting the Peleliu landing in September, Franklin continued in her supporting role during the landing at Leyte in October, where she also participated in the Battle of Sibuyan Sea and the Battle of Cape Engano during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Under way about 100 miles (160 km) off Samar on 30 October, Franklin spotted enemy Kamikaze bombers. Navy fighters shot down most of the Japanese planes, but six broke through the combat air patrol into Franklin's task group of four carriers defensively surrounded by a circle of about twenty escorting cruisers and destroyers. Shipboard anti-aircraft guns shot down several of the Kamikazes that were diving toward the four carriers; but the one targeting Franklin hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. As the remaining kamikazes attacked, one was shot down by anti-aircraft guns and the second missed Franklin with two bombs before being shot down by the light carrier, USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). Unfortunately, the Kamikaze plane fell on Belleau Wood 's flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the conflagration could be brought under control, 92 men had either died or were missing.
S2c Grafton was one of the 56 men killed on Big Ben. Grafton's remains were committed to the sea at formal ceremonies the following day. Although he died on 30 Oct and was buried at sea, Grafton was considered missing in action because his remains were not brought home. His wife and family were notified of his death in early January 1945 according to newspaper accounts. Ernest's son, William Ernest Grafton (1944-2022), was born on 04 Nov 1944 just four days after his father's death.
S2c Grafton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon (presumed eligible), American Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Fleet clasp and three campaign stars (one star in lieu of Fleet Clasp) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars (one bronze star in lieu of Fleet Clasp), World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
This bio sketch incorporates excerpts from the USS Franklin (CV-13) War Damage Report No.56 published 15 Sept 1946. Naval History and Heritage Command.
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Seaman Second Class Grafton's wife received a commemoration from President Truman. It reads:
In grateful memory of Ernest Oliver GRAFTON, United States Navy, who died in the service of his country, at SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. FRANKLIN, 30 October 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Signed, Harry S. Truman
President of the United States
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Combat Action Ribbon note:
See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019. Chapter 2:
3a (3) Personnel aboard a ship are eligible when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements. Eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
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[Bio#396 composed on18 Oct 2022 by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)]
Military Hall of Honor ID: #139051
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Entered the service from Kansas.
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1. Kennedy, John W. The Naval Training Station at Newport: A Place in U.S. Naval History. The online Review of Rhode Island History.
http://smallstatebighistory.com/naval-training-station-newport-place-u-s-naval-history/
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