JOHN G. GRAFTON, LTJG, USN
John Grafton '61
Lucky Bag
From the 1961 Lucky Bag:
JOHN GILBERT GRAFTON
Jamesville, New York
J. Fred Muggs — 2nd Company
A native of West Virginia, John came to Navy after three semesters at West Virginia Tech. With the exception of Humanities, academics never came hard to him, and he was always glad to explain a point that others could not understand. Electronics occupied most of J. Fred's spare time, his services being divided between WRNV and his own hi-fi. The Radio Club and the Photo Club work also drew on his free time. Muggs looks forward to a long and happy career in Navy Line, and he will undoubtedly go a long way. On liberty or on duty his presence is appreciated, and what he lacks in height he more than compensates for with a good head and a fine personality.
He was also a member of the 1st Battalion staff (fall and spring).
JOHN GILBERT GRAFTON
Jamesville, New York
J. Fred Muggs — 2nd Company
A native of West Virginia, John came to Navy after three semesters at West Virginia Tech. With the exception of Humanities, academics never came hard to him, and he was always glad to explain a point that others could not understand. Electronics occupied most of J. Fred's spare time, his services being divided between WRNV and his own hi-fi. The Radio Club and the Photo Club work also drew on his free time. Muggs looks forward to a long and happy career in Navy Line, and he will undoubtedly go a long way. On liberty or on duty his presence is appreciated, and what he lacks in height he more than compensates for with a good head and a fine personality.
He was also a member of the 1st Battalion staff (fall and spring).
Loss
John was lost on April 10, 1963 when USS Thresher (SSN 593) sank during testing about 220 miles east of Cape Code, Massachusetts.
Other Information
From USS Thresher Memorial:
John Gilbert Grafton was born on August 13, 1937, in Fayetteville, West Virginia, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Grafton of Dewitt, N.Y.
Prior to entering the Naval Academy in 1957, John was graduated from Fayetteville High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.
In June 1961, he was graduated from the Naval Academy and commissioned ensign. He was then ordered to the Nuclear Power School at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, for instruction. Upon completing this course in December 1961, John was selected for further training and received orders to the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho. While a student at the school, John received nuclear power operational training, until August 1962. He was then transferred to the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut. Upon completion of his basic submarine training there, John was ordered in March 1963, to the submarine USS Thresher (SSN 593)
Lieutenant Junior Grade Grafton leaves, in addition to his parents, his grandfather, Mr. Gilbert Smith, to whom he was very close, and for whom he was named.
John has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
Related Articles
Albert Bailey, Jr. '61 was also a member of 2nd Company.
Philip Allen '45, John Billings '50, John Harvey '50, Robert Krag '50, Michael DiNola '53, Robert Biederman '54, Merrill Collier '56, John Wiley '61, Guy Parsons, Jr. '59, James Henry, Jr. '60, and Ronald Babcock '60 were also lost when USS Thresher (SSN 593) sank with all hands on April 10, 1963.
John is one of 23 members of the Class of 1961 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
