World War II Honoree

Raymond Adelbert Auringer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Honored By

Edward W. Samuell, Jr.

Relationship

USMA Classmate

GRADUATED FROM THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944. COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY. IN JULY 1944 HE ATTENDED THE BASIC INFANTRY COURSE 67 AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA ALONG WITH 101 OF HIS CLASSMATES. WITH 32 OF HIS CLASSMATES, HE FOLLOWED THIS TRAINING BY VOLUNTEERING FOR AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE PARACHUTE OFFICERS’ COURSE 141, AT THE PARACHUTE SCHOOL ALSO LOCATED AT FORT BENNING ON OCTOBER 6, 1944. FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF HIS RATED PARACHUTIST BADGE IN OCTOBER, HE RECEIVED ORDERS FOR THE 13TH AIRBORNE DIVISION AT CAMP MACKALL, NORTH CAROLINA, ON THE EDGE OF FORT BRAGG. HE SERVED AS A PARACHUTE INFANTRY PLATOON LEADER IN THE 326TH GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THAT DIVISION UNTIL DECEMBER 1944. ON DECEMBER 20, 1944 HE RECEIVED ORDERS TO THE XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND SET SAIL FOR LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON THE QUEEN MARY AS A REPLACEMENT OFFICER. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, AS A PARACHUTE INFANTRY PLATOON LEADER AND ON FEBRUARY 3, 1945 HE RECEIVED HIS FIRST COMMAND IN COMBAT AS PLATOON LEADER OF THE 2ND PLATOON, COMPANY D, 2ND BATTALION OF THE 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. HIS UNIT WAS DEPLOYED AGAINST GERMAN UNITS WITHDRAWING FROM THE BULGE IN THE CLERVEAUX AREA OF LUXEMBOURG, ALONG THE RIVER. HE RECEIVED THE RHINELAND BRONZE STAR ON HIS EUROPEAN-AFRICA-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945 HE AND HIS PLATOON ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, RE DEPLOYED TO CHALON-SUR-MARNE FOR REORGANIZATION, TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR OPERATION VARSITY. ON MARCH 1, 1945 WHILE STILL AT CHALON-SUR-MARNE, HE WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. OPERATION VARSITY, CONDUCTED MARCH 25, 1945 UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL MATT RIDGWAY’S XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS, SUCCEEDED IN SEIZING GERMAN KEY TERRAIN ON THE EAST BANK OF THE RHINE RIVER. HE AND HIS MEN LANDED IN A DROP ZONE NEAR THE TOWN OF HAMMINKELN, NORTHWEST OF THE RUHR CITY OF WESEL THAT WAS UNDER HEAVY GERMAN GUNFIRE. IN THE FACE OF THIS ENEMY ACTION HE RALLIED HIS PLATOON, SEIZED THE NEARBY SCHLOSS RINGENBERG AND CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE OF HIS POSITION, THUS ACCOMPLISHING SUCCESSFULLY HIS PLATOON’S MISSION. THIS ACTION QUALIFIED HIM FOR A BRONZE ARROWHEAD ON HIS EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. IN COMBAT ACTION FOLLOWING OPERATION VARSITY, HE AND HIS PLATOON WERE INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE FOR MUNSTER. HE RECEIVED WOUNDS IN THE FOLLOW ON ASSAULT ON THE RUHR CITY OF ESSEN ON APRIL 7, 1945 THAT EARNED HIM THE PURPLE HEART. HE REMAINED WITH HIS PLATOON AS ITS COMMANDER V-E DAY AND UNTIL JUNE 30, 1945 WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE G-3 OFFICE OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. ON AUGUST 1, 1945 THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION WAS TRANSFERRED FROM GERMANY TO AUXERRE, FRANCE, IN PREPARATION FOR REDEPLOYMENT TO THE FAR EAST. THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN CAUSED THE 101ST TO STAND DOWN. ON AUGUST 29, 1945 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT (GIR) AS A COMPANY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.