Stanley S. Grahek
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Stanley S. Grahek of Ely, Minnesota, entered the Navy on August 4, 1942.
He served as a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class and gunnery crew chief on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV 16) in the Pacific Theater.
He participated in assaults on Tarawa Atoll, Wake Island, Gilbert islands, Kwajalein, Marianas, Palau, Truk, Saipan, Bonin Islands, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Leyte and first and second battles of the Philippines Sea.
The Lexington was named the "Blue Ghost" by Tokyo Rose, who on three different occasions reported the vessel sunk.
He was honorably discharged Dec. 21, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 93.
