Too Young the Hero is a 1988 American made-for-television historical drama war film directed by Buzz Kulik and starring Rick Schroder.

The film tells the true story of a 12-year-old boy who forges his mother's signature to join the United States Navy during World War II.

[5] Calvin Graham (Ricky Schroder), a 12-year-old boy who looks older than his age, shows up at a naval base in uniform with a set of sealed orders.

In prison, he has a series of flashbacks during which he forges his mother's signature to enlist in the U.S. Navy, completes basic training and is assigned to the USS South Dakota (BB-57).

When Graham is asked about a wound in the back of his head, he remembers the USS South Dakota fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.