World War II Honoree

Rufus 'Ray' B. Fink

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Dorothea Sessions Bundy

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON JUNE 21, 1946 FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS. THREE DAYS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, HE REPORTED TO U.S. NAVAL TRAINING CENTER AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND FOR BOOT TRAINING. TOOK AND PASSED THE 'EDDY TEST' GIVING HIM A SHOT AT BEING AN ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN'S MATE WITH TRAINING AT U.S. NAVAL TRAINING CENTER GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. DECEMBER 20, 1946, AS A SEAMAN 2ND CLASS, HE WAS SHIPPED TO THE NAVAL RECEIVING STATION, PHILADELPHIA AND THEN WAS TRANSFERRED ON JANUARY 16, 1947 TO NAVAL AIR MATERIAL CENTER, NAVAL AUXILIARY AIR STATION, MUSTIN FIELD, PHILADELPHIA WHERE HE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF HIS ENLISTMENT. ATTAINED THE RATE OF YEOMAN 3RD CLASS. SINCE CONGRESS' DECLARATION OF THE END OF THE WAR WAS DECEMBER 31,1946, SIX MONTHS AFTER RAY'S ENLISTMENT BEGAN, HE WAS AWARDED BY AUTHORITY OF ALNAV COMMUNICATION NUMBER 352-45 THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AFTER HIS DISCHARGE HE REMAINED ON RESERVE DUTY, RETURNING TO ACTIVE DUTY AS A NAVY CHAPLAIN AND RETIRING NOVEMBER 1, 1978 WITH RANK OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDER.