TACAMO Fallen - Norm Graves, VQ-3

From Master Chief Ron Fox,

Norman Barnard Graves Jr., 76, died Sunday. He was born in Hawaii on Aug. 27, 1949, and lived in Tracy, California for the past 17 years, and was a military veteran. Tracy Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements, and there are no services planned at this time. He will be buried at Punch Bowl National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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From Irish,

Master Chief Norman Graves was a powerhouse TACAMO Crewman. When I checked into VQ3 Guam almost 50 years ago I was assigned to Crew 5. I heard it was one of the best crews in the squadron. Jimmy Thompson was Reel, JT Thompson was Nav, Jim Downs was MC , Jim DePuy was ACO, Carl Balhorn was AC, Danny Pierce was ACOM/ACS-T , Gil Gaxiola was FT- T and other all-stars.

I learned a lot about what TACAMO Crew Dog was all about. I learned about professionalism and total commitment to mission excellence. Chief Graves was the senior enlisted on Crew 5. We took a lot of pride in Crew Integrity. We deployed all over to Japan, PI, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan. Etc. Chief Graves knew how to motivate and inspire and run a crew. As I was a 3P on the crew, Chief Graves took me aside as he did others and trained us in Comm Central. Hours and hours spent with Chief Graves learning about TACAMO and the Navy. We became great friends. Thanks, Master Chief, for your leadership and mentorship. . Godspeed. RIP and thank you for the memories. It was an honor to serve with you.

From Don Ensminger

I just found out my first ACS and mentor at VQ3 on crew 5, Norm Graves has passed in Tracy, California. I was having a good day and then I got the news from the TACAMO back-office news express.

Norm did 3 tours in the 70's and 80's, I knew him in the 80's. I was young and motivated, and Norm channeled my energy and slowed me down to smell the roses. I learned a lot from Norm. We did not keep up over the years but I always have benefited from my tutelage under Norm, "Chief" as I knew him. He went on to be a Master Chief. I was a ring knocker for Master but retired at 20 before gaining the third star.

I have a few mentors from those years, and Chief was the most hands on, and I benefited every day after that. RIP Chief, Master Chief.

From Danny Pierce

So sad. I worked for and with

Norm during my tour at VQ3. He was my 1st Class and later, RMC in the Comm Center and my mentor who put me through ACOMM & ACS Syllabus and left the ACS Position open for me on Crew 5 as he was assigned to another Crew. He was above all, a great person. After I got out of active duty, I used to travel to Hawaii for my Reserve Duty and

hangout with Norm for a couple years. I will personally miss Norm very

much.

RIP Brother Norm. You will always be remembered.