World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Nathan I. Raiken
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Honored By
A Grateful American
SERVED WITH THE 36TH 'TEXAS' INFANTRY DIVISION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SALERNO, ITALY. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO IN ITALY, HIS UNIT WAS TRAPPED ON THE BANK OF THE RAPIDO RIVER. HE ESCAPED BY SWIMMING THE ICY WATERS AND HELPED ANOTHER SOLDIER MAKE IT ACROSS. LATER IN FRANCE, DECEMBER 1944 HIS UNIT WAS AMBUSHED IN ALSACE-LORRAINE AND CAPTURED AND WAS A PRISONER OF WAR IN GERMANY.