bheadher ...since it was never meant to be a war movie. Instead, it is something of a biography...while dramatized to the hilt, it is none the less the true story of Calvin Graham, acknowledged to be the youngest veteran of the WW2 Navy. It includes some stark WW2 film clips of action, and overall is fairly well done, telling young Graham's subterfuge in enlisting, then fighting on the USS South Dakota, while bouncing back to his imprisonment after being found out. The movie does a good job of getting the point across that the Navy really didn't know what to do with him...Not an EMMY level movie, but still worth watching...

TxMike When viewing this movie it is important to remember that the world was a lot different in 1942, and even more different when you consider that we were at war. Many young men under the age of 17 were falsifying their age to enlist in one of the military branches, some to get out and help the fight, others because even the military was better than being poor and/or homeless.The fine young actor Ricky Schroder, about 16 or 17 during filming, plays Calvin Graham who at age 12, living in Houston, falsified a document to say he was 17. He went to war on the USS South Dakota, the lead of her battleship class. He saw action, was wounded, and received the bronze star and the purple heart.Eventually it was discovered that he was only 12 and, no matter how fine a sailor he was, there was no government regulation that would let him remain in the Navy.The movie starts with him reporting to a Naval Station with sealed papers, only to find out that he was considered to be a deserter and was thrown in the brig. Then most of the story is shown as flashbacks. When he had been sent home from New York when the ship was in for repairs, he was told to report to his local recruiter in Houston, where his case would be handled. He thought he would get a new assignment but instead they wrote the desertion papers. He was finally released when his sister found out where he was and she went to the newspapers with the story.That is where the movie ends, but his tale of woes continued for a long time, his medals were taken away, he was discharged dishonorably, and in later years presidents Carter and Reagan restored some of what he earned.

grandpabro i am proud to have walked in Calvin Grahams footsteps. I belong to the same veterans group he did. . I am Missouri state vice commander. Calvin has more than two thousand known comrades Veterans of underage military service. I am Missour state vice commander.Calvin has more than two thousand known comrades with many not found yet.We have reunions each year across America and a mini-reunion at Branson.Missouri during veterans day week November 6th- 12,2005. Ronald W. Browne, Missouri Vice Commanderwe are always looking for all Americans who enlisted into the military underage. we have our own web site. or call 1-888-653-8867

nicoal When you see Rick in the film it's easy to understand that it is impossible to be a 12 years old boy. I think he is around 20 in the film but the director may used this actor because he though that this was the only that he could find and fit for the role. Of course some things in the movie never happened but they were created so the film could be success. I hoped that films like that would be produced even today. As an overview of the film its shows the World War II at the side of U.S. Navy through the eyes of a young boy.