World War II Honoree

Nathan I. Raiken

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

DURING WWII, HE SERVED WITH THE 36TH TEXAS INFANTRY DIVISION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SALERNO. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO IN ITALY, HIS UNIT WAS TRAPPED ON THE BANK OF THE RAPIDO RIVER. HE HAD BROKEN BUTTERFLY STROKE RECORDS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND ESCAPED BY SWIMMING THE ICY CURRENTS, AND HE HELPED ANOTHER SOLDIER MAKE IT ACROSS. LATER HE FOUGHT IN FRANCE, AND IN DECEMBER 1944, HIS UNIT WAS AMBUSHED IN ALSACE-LORRAINE AND CAPTURED. HIS FAMILY WAS NOTIFIED THAT HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION, AND LEARNED MONTHS LATER THAT HE WAS IN A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN GERMANY. HE WAS RELEASED APRIL 30, 1945.