World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Aaron F. Ray
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Tate County, Tennessee
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY MAY 21, 1941 AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE U.S. ARMY, 22ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH INFANTRY ‘IVY’ DIVISION, VII CORPS, U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LANDING CRAFT VEHICLE PERSONNEL ‘LCVP’, HE WENT ASHORE ON UTAH NORMANDY BEACHHEAD. KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 14, 1944 AND IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.