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Taken from Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois:Major Arnold McGraw enlisted in the U.S. Army 19 March, 1956. He served 21 years in the service. He started as enlisted Staff Sergeant E-6 and later became a Chief Warrant Officer W-2, and finally a commissioned Officer at the rank of major. He is qualified in the Fixed Wing 0-1, U-1, U-6, U-8, U-21, T-41, and T-42. Rotary Wing includes OH-13, OH-58, and U-1. He has 2,414 hours of Military Flight Time, 921 Rotary wing, and 913 Combat. Total flight time is some 8,000 hours.
One of his missions in Vietnam was a supply mission where he was attacked by VC units and sustained six hits to his aircraft, a DeHavilland Otter. He landed, assessed his battle damage, and returned to the scene within 30 minutes leading a force of three armed Huey Helicopters to attack the area with rocket fire. During his second tour in Vietnam, he became helicopter qualified and was awarded the Bronze Star as a result of air missions against hostile forces throughout the war zone. McGraw now flies a Piper Aztec for a small newspaper group, which operates out of Kankakee, Illinois, and has done that for several years.
Decorations: Air medal with four Oak leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army commendation medal, Air Medal with V-Device, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Bronze Star just to name a few.
