Veterans Voices: Kirk & Polly Graham

Veterans Kirk and Polly Graham, of Davenport, have extensive family history in the military. Kirk joined because he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps.

"I was at a point in my life where I needed something," said Kirk Graham.

Kirk enlisted in the Army in 1975. He was still in boot camp when the Vietnam War ended. Polly married Kirk while he was still in the military, and they had two children together. After Kirk joined the Army Reserves, Polly missed military life.

"I felt like it was not enough, I needed a challenge," she said. Then she enlisted in 1989, at the age of 34.

""I said 'Hey, I think I have an opportunity to go in and join the military.' He was like 'If that's what you want to do, I'll support you 100 percent.' And two days later I signed up and I'm in," recalled Polly Graham.

"I through it would allow her to bring out the best of her," said Kirk Graham. "And it did."

Kirk Graham would be deployed to Iraq in the early 2000s. He was a helicopter pilot when a Chinook helicopter crashed in Iraq, killing 16 U.S. soldiers. He says he often flew the same route, but wasn't there that day.

"It affected so many families," he said. "It's something that will be with me the rest of my life."

Polly Graham says it took more than a day to learn if Kirk was safe. Their son asked about his dad whenever a call came in.

"He was interested in every time the phone rang: 'What was that?'" said Polly Graham.

The couple says those years were hard for their family, but they persevered.

"I have my Army job, not knowing where that's going to be, plus my civilian job, and he's off to war," said Polly Graham. "So those were tough times."

"I think the one that was most affected by it was my son," said Kirk Graham. "Years later he was affected by it. He missed his dad for a year and a half and his mom for a year and a half. He (was) 12 years old. Those are difficult times for kids."

Polly was deployed to Iraq after Kirk returned home. She recalls one moment that put her on a path after retirement.

Her eyes began to tear up at the memory: "My job at that evening was to hold the wounded's hands for the ones that really weren't going to make it and keep them as comfortable as possible."

They're continuing their service after the military. Polly volunteers at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Kirk is a chaplain and member of the American Legion in Blue Grass. They both believe it's important to have a place for veterans.

"It's a healing process for them," said Polly Graham. "Those years they spent are embedded in their memory. It won't go away."

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