While Nashville watched as rising stars like Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll took over the charts, the home of country music recently welcomed Don Graves to their ranks. Besides sharing a love for country music, Graves was also a World War II veteran who celebrated his 100th birthday. Having served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, the veteran recalled what it was like to fight for America on the beaches of Iwo Jima. And turning those memories into lyrics, Graves became the oldest person to sign a record contract in Nashville.
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Speaking with Fox17 about his time in the military and fighting one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, Graves admitted, “We formed the best crack division the Marine Corps had. We lost 7,000 kids on the island. And we were people who wanted to defeat the enemy because we loved our country, and they were going to take it away from us.”
Serving as a flamethrower operator, Graves never forgot the horrors of the war, and the cost many of his friends paid for freedom. Pushing hard against the Japanese Imperial Army, the veteran was the only flamethrower operator to survive the battle. And for most who remember the iconic photo of six Marines planting the flag on top of Mount Suribachi, Graves didn’t need to see the picture because he was there.
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John Rich And Lee Greenwood Help Don Graves Bring “The Sand Of Iwo Jima” To Life
Recalling that historic moment in World War II, the veteran insisted, “When it went up, 520 ships right in the bay let go with their horns and whistles and rockets, everything that go on fire in the air. It was a spectacle.”
A true American hero, singers like John Rich and Lee Greenwood jumped at the chance to bring the stories of Graves to the airwaves. Working with songwriter Jason Sever, the writer explained how Graves was like Elvis Presley. “A guy like Don is, he’s my Elvis Presley. I mean, all the accolades in the word are, you know, the hit songs and stuff like that, that’s cool, but getting to write a story about a guy like that, it’s like hanging with Elvis to me.”
Putting the final touches on “The Sand of Iwo Jima”, the song is expected to be released in the coming months. But for now, Graves added just another memorable moment to his rich legacy that included turning 100 years old, the battle of Iwo Jima, and becoming the oldest person to land a record deal in Nashville.
(FOX NASHVILLE, 2025)
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