World War II Honoree

Mike C. Raveles

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Yuma, Arizona

Honored By

Daughter

HE JOINED THE ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD ON SEPTEMBER 1940 IN YUMA, ARIZONA. SEPARATED FROM THE U.S. ARMY, 475TH INFANTRY REGIMENT IN 1945. HIS UNIT TRAVELED FROM THE U.S. TO PANAMA, CHINA-BURMA-INDIA AS WELL AS OTHER UNDISCLOSED AREAS DUE TO HIS DUTY ASSIGNMENT. HIS UNIT WAS DESIGNATED AS THE 5307TH COMPOSITE UNIT (PROVISIONAL) AND WAS ALSO KNOWN AS MERRILL'S MARAUDERS. IN 1944 WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN CHINA THEY WERE RE-ORGANIZED AS THE 475TH INFANTRY REGIMENT AND ALSO BECAME PART OF THE AMERICAN MARS TASK FORCE WHICH SAW GALLANT ACTION IN THE CENTRAL BURMA CAMPAIGN. HIS UNIT FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF MYITKYINA, TRAVELING THE ORIGINAL BURMA ROAD, OPENING UP THE WAY TO JOIN THE STILWELL ROAD. HE WAS DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT IN THE U.S. ARMY. DECEASED JULY 29, 2006.