Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1915

Ivan Montrose Graham was born on 11 June 1895 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. He received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with the class of 1915.

Ivan married Lillian Addison Sprigg and they had one son, Montrose Graham, who was born on 20 May 1918. Ivan fathered Montrose, but died of Influenza on 21 September 1918 in Quebec, Canada, while on duty in World War I, without ever having the opportunity to see his son.

Honors

The name Lieutenant Ivan Montrose Graham is listed on the plaque outside the War Memorial Natatorium for giving his life in the Great War.

Personal

Ivan's best friend at the Naval Academy was Lynde Dupuy McCormick, also in the class of 1915. Lynde McCormick married Ivan's widow, Lillian Graham, on 2 October 1920, and adopted Ivan's son and renamed him Montrose Graham McCormick. [A relative, Ridgely Montrose Graham, says that Montrose is a traditional middle name for males in the Graham Family, so it is suspected that Montrose had another preceding First Name that may have been dropped upon adoption.]

Like his father and step-father, Montrose Graham McCormick (Honoree Record ID 210300) attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1939. Montrose' step-father, Lynde Dupuy McCormick (Honoree Record ID 594), retired from the Navy as an Admiral. Lieutenant Commander Montrose Graham McCormick died in a plane crash at sea during World War II and his body was not recovered.

Burial

Lieutenant Ivan Montrose Graham is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=75275072

His widow Lillian and her husband, Admiral Lynde Dupuy McCormick, are also buried there.