- Born: February 9, 1922, Minneapolis, MN
- Enlistment date: December 29, 1942, Fort Snelling, MN
- Deployments: Europe – September 5, 1943
- Units: Battery B, 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion,
101st Airborne Division
- Rank: Private First Class
- Specialisations: Gunner
- Qualifications: Combat Infantryman Badge
- Decorations: World War II Victory Ribbon,
Good Conduct Medal,
American Theater Ribbon,
EAME Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars and 2 Bronze Arrowheads,
Presidential Unit Citation,
Bronze Star Medal,
French Croix de Guerre,
Belgian Croix de Guerre,
Belgian Fourragere,
Netherlands Orange Lanyard
- Discharge Date: 19 October 1945, Camp Grant, IL
The photo of Ray was taken in England in 1943. At the time, Ray was billeted in the horse stalls of Watcome Farm near Newbury, Berkshire. On D-Day 6th June 1944, Ray’s glider battery was not destined to fly into Normandy, but to land on the beaches. He originally considered that to be a far better option than landing by glider, but as it turned out, he was sadly mistaken. Ray later landed by glider as part of the 101st mission in Operation Market Garden and was also trucked into Bastogne. He has had the unique experience of participating in all three of the 101st Airborne’s major WWII campaigns and was delivered to each by a different method; landing craft, glider and truck.
