John McGraw

Who is John McGraw?

John Robert McGraw was a retired Brigadier general. He was born in Lakemont, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in 1912, to Howard and Emma McGraw. He graduated as salutatorian from Johnstown Senior High School, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1934 as a doctor of medicine.

Dr. McGraw worked in private practice from 1935 to 1936 in Pennsylvania as a general practitioner and surgeon. In 1937, on his 25th birthday, he entered military service as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. By 1942, within five years of joining the army, first lieutenant McGraw had advanced to the rank of colonel. In 1944, Colonel McGraw was reassigned to the position of Assistant Commandant of the AAF School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field Texas.

In 1945, Colonel McGraw served in the European Theater of Operations. He then served as a surgeon in the Thirteenth Air Force in the Pacific Theater. After World War II, Colonel McGraw returned to the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field and served as the deputy commandant, and later as commandant.