World War II Honoree

John P. Ray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Gretna, Louisiana

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY DURING WWII WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AT 18 YEARS OLD IN JANUARY OF 1941. AS A SERGEANT HE JUMPED WITH THE 2ND PLATOON, FOX COMPANY, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION INTO NORTH AFRICA, SICILY AND ITALY. HE PARACHUTED BEHIND ENEMY LINES INTO SAINTE MERE-EGLISE, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944 AS PART OF THE D-DAY INVASION AND WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED. HE DIED ON JUNE 7, 1944 AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. AMONG HIS OTHER MEDALS ARE A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.