BOONE, N.C. (BP)–Capt. Edward Graham, the youngest son of evangelist Franklin Graham, has sustained shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and back in Iraq.
Edward Graham, a 27-year-old Army Ranger and West Point graduate, did not suffer life-threatening injuries and is recovering at an undisclosed hospital, according to news reports.
“We know that he is fine and has asked for prayers for his men,” Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for Franklin Graham, told the Citizen-Times newspaper in Asheville, N.C., adding that he had no more details on the incident. “Rangers aren’t allowed to disclose much information — even where he is.”
Franklin Graham, head of the Samaritan’s Purse international relief organization, revealed the news of his son’s injuries during his message March 3 at MissionFest in Toronto, the Charlotte Observer said March 10.
Glenn Wilcox, a close friend of the Graham family, told the Citizen-Times that Edward Graham is serving his second tour in Iraq and that his father is extremely proud of him.
“He’s a very fine, outstanding young man, but very tough and very sure of himself,” Wilcox said. “I’ve never met anyone I was more impressed with than Edward. And he loves it — he’s really committed to the United States, to West Point and to doing his job the very best he can.”
Edward Graham is one of four children of Franklin Graham and one of 19 grandchildren of evangelist Billy Graham.
Spokesmen for both Franklin Graham and The Mountain Times newspaper in Boone, N.C., where Samaritan’s Purse is based, told Baptist Press they had no additional information to provide on Edward Graham’s condition or circumstances.
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