World War II Honoree

Waverly W. Wray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Panola County, Mississippi

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S ARMY JANUARY 9, 1941 AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI. SERVED AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, DELTA COMPANY, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE AND A 2ND COMBAT JUMP INTO HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 19, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF THE NIJMEGEN, HOLLAND RAILROAD BRIDGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY A GERMAN TANK. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AWARDED FOR EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE. HE WAS ALSO A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR NOMINEE. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR COTENTIN, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE, FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR ACTION IN THE ARDENNES, BELGIUM AND GERMANY. HIS BODY WAS RETURNED TO MISSISSIPPI FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.