World War II Honoree

Karl M. Rague

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Manchester, Michigan

Honored By

Emanuel United Church of Christ

CAPTAIN KARL MARTIN RAGUE U.S. ARMY, MEDICAL CORPS. HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1943 FROM HIS HOMETOWN OF MANCHESTER, MICHIGAN AND REPORTED TO BROOKE ARMY GENERAL HOSPITAL, FT. SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. IN JULY OF 1944 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO CAMP GRANT, ILL AND WAS STATIONED THERE UNTIL SEPT 1944 WHEN HE LEFT FOR OVERSEAS DUTY WITH THE 107TH GENERAL HOSPITAL UNIT. HE REMAINED WITH THIS UNIT UNTIL NEW YEARS DAY JAN 1945 WHEN HE RECEIVED ORDERS TO JOIN THE THIRD ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN BELGIUM. HE HELD THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND SERVED AS BATTALION SURGEON. HE BEGAN HIS WORK IN BELGIUM IN JANUARY 5, 1945 AND DIED JUST 5 DAYS LATER, ON JANUARY 10, 1945 IN BASTOGNE, BELGIUM, OF WOUNDS HE RECEIVED IN ACTION. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AS A TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF THE COUNTRY’S GRATITUDE FOR HIS GALLANTRY AND DEVOTION. IN DECEMBER OF 1948 CAPTAIN RAGUE’S REMAINS WERE REMOVED FROM A U.S. MILITARY CEMETERY IN BELGIUM AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. HE WAS BURIED WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, WASHINGTON. D.C.