After graduating high school in 2003, during the height of the Iraq War, Graham snuck his birth certificate out of his father’s office to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.
(the bio on his campaign site goes on...)
After completing his infantry training, Graham was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 8th Marines and deployed to Al-Anbar Province, Iraq in January of 2005 where the battalion served primarily in the area east of Fallujah. In 2006, he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq and served as machinegun section leader at the Government Center. He was deployed again in 2007.
After his third deployment, Graham enrolled at The George Washington University using the GI Bill. Graham quickly realized that his time serving in uniform was not over. So in 2009, he joined the Maryland Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan the following year where he served as a rifle team leader.
He returned from Afghanistan and went back to school at The George Washington University in 2011. Like many veterans, Graham struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and physical challenges that come from heavy infantry combat. Graham eventually withdrew from George Washington University and moved back home to Maine where he used the resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs to get the help he needed.
After four tours overseas, Graham was deeply disillusioned with America’s failed foreign policy and endless wars and decided to focus on serving his local community in Maine.
In 2018, Graham started working on his friend’s small oyster farm in his hometown of Sullivan. He quickly felt deeply connected with the sea and the community. He eventually took over the oyster farm and built it into a business that produces high quality oysters. Graham also began a diving and mooring service to help out around the bay, and serves the town of Sullivan as Harbormaster and Planning Board Chair.
for some reason his website bio omits his time as a “security contractor” in 2018, although he did mention it in this interview:
After his return to DC, he was in and out of college. He picked up bartending, and never ended up finishing school. In 2016, he moved back to Maine, where he began gaining support from the Veterans Affairs department, getting physical and mental therapy. He felt a renewed call to service, and in 2018, got a job as a security contractor for the State Department in Afghanistan.
https://www.grahamforsenate.com/about :
(the bio on his campaign site goes on...)
for some reason his website bio omits his time as a “security contractor” in 2018, although he did mention it in this interview:
meanwhile, https://www.grahamforsenate.com/platform :