World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Ray J. Hiltunen
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, BAKER COMPANY, 326TH AIRBORNE ENGINEER BATTALION, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, INVASION OF HOLLAND. ABOARD A WACO GLIDER LOADED WITH JEEPS AND WHILE APPROACHING THE LANDING ZONE, ENEMY GROUND FIRE SHOT OFF THE LEFT WING AND IT CRASHED IN THE VICINITY OF OISTERWIJK, HOLLAND. HE IS BURIED AT THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY, MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PURPLE HEART AND IS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.