11/16/1946 - 5/20/1967

He left for Vietnam on November 25, 1966. There he was attached to K Company 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. On May 18, 1967, the Marines began OPERATION HICKORY with the mission of "removing enemy forces and installations from the southern half of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)". On May 20, 1967, LCpl Gravil was killed in heavy combat.

Marine Lance Corporal John Allen Gravil was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 16, 1946. After attending Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, he graduated from Cheshire High School in 1965. He briefly attended the University of Orlando, Florida, before enlisting in the Marines in November 1965.

The Gravil family, including John’s brother, Robert, were members of St. Bridget’s Church. LCpl. Gravil is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

(Photo from FindaGrave.com)

The 1967 Memorial Day Parade and Observances paid special tribute to LCpl John A Gravil and PFC Gary C. Richards, whose names are now inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

LCpl Gravil’s name is located on Panel 20E - Line 59.