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
UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF BURIAL
UNKNOWN
MORE ABOUT CORPORAL GRAHAM
Corporal Graham previously served in the National Guard for five years and served on the Mexican Border for two years. During his WWI service, he was sent overseas to France where he saw action in the Battle of Château-Thierry.
He was killed in action at Château-Thierry when he sent back for ammunition. While attempting to return, a bursting high explosive shell killed or wounded his entire squadron.
The American Legion Post 173 in Whitewater, Wis., was named after William Graham, because he was the first service member from here to be killed in WWI. He was known as Billy Graham.
American Legion Post 173 is one of the oldest in Wisconsin and in the nation. Our post was established on December 19, 1919, after World War I to honor William Graham, who was the first Whitewater soldier killed in action in France. The first post commander was Col. Harold Anderson.
William "Billy" Graham was a member of the Freshman class of 1909 at the Whitewater Normal High School. He joined the United States Army in 1912. He served with Company "K", 128th Infantry. He rose to the rank of Corporal and was killed in action on August 2, 1918.
From 1919 to 1938, post meetings were held on the second floor at 148 West Main Street. In the 1930's, when the Federal Government built the new Armory building at the corner of West North and First Streets (a WPS project), the post was granted a basement room.
A Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Veteran's Memorial Building took place in August 1969, and Post 173 moved their meetings there in 1970. A building dedication ceremony was held on March 11, 1973. Several fund raising efforts were held to pay off the building and on December 18,1983, the post held a mortgage burning ceremony.
In March of 2020 the Veteran's Memorial Building was sold. Meetings are now being held at 130 Center Street in Whitewater. The former Veteran's Memorial Building is located just east of downtown Whitewater on Wisconsin Street, one block south of Business Highway 12.
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
UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF BURIAL
UNKNOWN
MORE ABOUT CORPORAL GRAHAM
Corporal Graham previously served in the National Guard for five years and served on the Mexican Border for two years. During his WWI service, he was sent overseas to France where he saw action in the Battle of Château-Thierry.
He was killed in action at Château-Thierry when he sent back for ammunition. While attempting to return, a bursting high explosive shell killed or wounded his entire squadron.
The American Legion Post 173 in Whitewater, Wis., was named after William Graham, because he was the first service member from here to be killed in WWI. He was known as Billy Graham.
American Legion Post 173 is one of the oldest in Wisconsin and in the nation. Our post was established on December 19, 1919, after World War I to honor William Graham, who was the first Whitewater soldier killed in action in France. The first post commander was Col. Harold Anderson.
William "Billy" Graham was a member of the Freshman class of 1909 at the Whitewater Normal High School. He joined the United States Army in 1912. He served with Company "K", 128th Infantry. He rose to the rank of Corporal and was killed in action on August 2, 1918.
From 1919 to 1938, post meetings were held on the second floor at 148 West Main Street. In the 1930's, when the Federal Government built the new Armory building at the corner of West North and First Streets (a WPS project), the post was granted a basement room.
A Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Veteran's Memorial Building took place in August 1969, and Post 173 moved their meetings there in 1970. A building dedication ceremony was held on March 11, 1973. Several fund raising efforts were held to pay off the building and on December 18,1983, the post held a mortgage burning ceremony.
In March of 2020 the Veteran's Memorial Building was sold. Meetings are now being held at 130 Center Street in Whitewater. The former Veteran's Memorial Building is located just east of downtown Whitewater on Wisconsin Street, one block south of Business Highway 12.
