World War II Honoree

Raymond Leroy Hefty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Waterloo, Indiana

Honored By

James Leroy Hefty

Relationship

Son

HE VOLUNTEERED AND WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AT CAMP PERRY, OHIO INDUCTION CENTER ON 01/01/1943. HE COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT DEVENS, MASSACHUSETTS. AND AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING AT CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE 544TH REGIMENT AND COMPLETED MORE TRAINING AT FORT GORDON JOHNSON IN CARRABELLE, FLORIDA. IN APRIL 1944 THE 544TH TRAVELED BY TROOP TRAIN FOR FIVE DAYS FROM FLORIDA TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. THEY THEN BOARDED AND TRAVELED BY BOAT DOWN THE SACRAMENTO RIVER TO SAN DIEGO WHERE THEY LEFT ON AN UNESCORTED TROOP SHIP. AFTER 30 DAYS ON THE TROOP SHIP THEY MADE THEIR FIRST LANDING AT BUNA, NEW GUINEA. THEY WENT ON TO MAKE ANOTHER LANDING AT MOROTAI, DUTCH EAST INDIES. HE AND THE 544TH SPENT CHRISTMAS 1944 IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. ON 01/09/1945 THE 544TH LANDED ON LUZON IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND MARCHED ON TO MANILA PARTICIPATING IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. THE WAR WITH JAPAN ENDED AND HE, ALONG WITH THE 544TH, BEGAN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. HE SERVED THERE FROM 09/1945 THROUGH 12/1945. ALONG THE WAY HE EARNED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, BRONZE ARROWHEAD, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 3 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ON 01/09/1946.