American Legion Post 173 Whitewater, WI
William Henry Graham Legion Post
William Henry Graham Legion Post
CORPORAL WILLIAM HENRY GRAHAM
ARMY: 128th Infantry Regiment
HOMETOWN: Whitewater WI
DATE OF BIRTH: Memorial Day 1890
LOCATION OF DEATH: Chatteau-Thierry France
DATE OF DEATH: August 2, 1918
LOCATION OF BURIAL: Chambray, France
MORE ABOUT CORPORAL GRAHAM
William “Billy” Graham was a member of the freshman class of 1909 at Whitewater Normal High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1912 and served with Company K of the 128th Infantry, eventually rising to the rank of Corporal.
Corporal Graham spent five years in the National Guard and served two years on the Mexican border. During World War I, he was deployed overseas to France, where he took part in the Battle of Château-Thierry.
On August 2, 1918, while returning to his unit with ammunition, a high-explosive shell struck, killing or wounding his entire squad. Corporal Graham was killed in action that day.
He was the first service member from Whitewater to be killed in World War I. In honor of his sacrifice, American Legion Post 173 in Whitewater, Wisconsin, was named after him. He was fondly known in the community as Billy Graham.
MORE ABOUT AMERICAN LEGION POST 173
December 19, 1919 – American Legion Post 173 was officially established following World War I, under the leadership of Post Commander Col. Harold Anderson.
1919 to 1938 – During its early years, the post held meetings on the second floor of 148 West Main Street in Whitewater.
1930s – When the Federal Government constructed a new Armory building at the corner of West North and First Streets as part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, Post 173 was granted use of a basement room in the facility.
August 1969 – A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the Veterans Memorial Building, which became the new home of Post 173.
1970 – The post moved its meetings to the Veterans Memorial Building. A formal building dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the post's new facility took place several years later on March 11, 1973.
December 18, 1983 – After years of fundraising efforts, the mortgage on the building was paid off, and the post marked the occasion with a mortgage burning ceremony.
March 2020 – The Veterans Memorial Building was sold, and Post 173 began holding its meetings at 130 Center Street in Whitewater.
Today – Meetings are held in the basement conference room of the apartment building that now stands in place of the former Veterans Memorial Building at 292 South Wisconsin Street in Whitewater.
William “Billy” Graham was a member of the freshman class of 1909 at Whitewater Normal High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1912 and served with Company K of the 128th Infantry, eventually rising to the rank of Corporal.
Corporal Graham spent five years in the National Guard and served two years on the Mexican border. During World War I, he was deployed overseas to France, where he took part in the Battle of Château-Thierry.
On August 2, 1918, while returning to his unit with ammunition, a high-explosive shell struck, killing or wounding his entire squad. Corporal Graham was killed in action that day.
He was the first service member from Whitewater to be killed in World War I. In honor of his sacrifice, American Legion Post 173 in Whitewater, Wisconsin, was named after him. He was fondly known in the community as Billy Graham.
MORE ABOUT AMERICAN LEGION POST 173
December 19, 1919 – American Legion Post 173 was officially established following World War I, under the leadership of Post Commander Col. Harold Anderson.
1919 to 1938 – During its early years, the post held meetings on the second floor of 148 West Main Street in Whitewater.
1930s – When the Federal Government constructed a new Armory building at the corner of West North and First Streets as part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, Post 173 was granted use of a basement room in the facility.
August 1969 – A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the Veterans Memorial Building, which became the new home of Post 173.
1970 – The post moved its meetings to the Veterans Memorial Building. A formal building dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the post's new facility took place several years later on March 11, 1973.
December 18, 1983 – After years of fundraising efforts, the mortgage on the building was paid off, and the post marked the occasion with a mortgage burning ceremony.
March 2020 – The Veterans Memorial Building was sold, and Post 173 began holding its meetings at 130 Center Street in Whitewater.
Today – Meetings are held in the basement conference room of the apartment building that now stands in place of the former Veterans Memorial Building at 292 South Wisconsin Street in Whitewater.
