World War II Honoree

Rayford H. Danley

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Florence, Alabama

Honored By

Shirlee Danley

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS FOR BOOT CAMP TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA ON MARCH 23, 1944. STATIONED AT CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA FROM JUNE 1, 1944 TO OCTOBER 1944. SENT TO NAVY BASE AT SAMPSON, NEW YORK FOR RADIO OPERATOR TRAINING, GRADUATED FEBRUARY 19, 1945. SENT TO MIRAMAR MARINE BASE IN CALIFORNIA UNTIL SHIPPING OVERSEAS ON MAY 9, 1945. ARRIVED AT ZAMBOANGA IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON JUNE 6, 1945 AND ASSIGNED TO MARINE AIR GROUP 12 HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON. AWARDED PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BATTLE STARS. IN AUGUST 1945 AFTER THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED IN JAPAN, HE WAS SENT TO BEIJING, CHINA FOR OCCUPATION DUTY UNTIL MAY 1946. DISCHARGED AT CAMP LE JEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA ON JUNE 27, 1946.