World War II Honoree

Raleigh Alexander Duke, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Gordonsville, Virginia

Honored By

Paula L. Delosh

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE NAVY ON MARCH 24, 1944, AND AFTER BOOT CAMP WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER USS RINGGOLD (DD-500).SPENT NOVEMBER 15, 1944 TO JANUARY 2, 1945 IN SAN FRANCISCO. SERVED AS A TORPEDOMAN 3RD CLASS IN THE 'C' DIVISION. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, IT BECAME PART OF TASK FORCES 58 AND 38, WITH OPERATIONS IN THE WATERS NEAR TOKYO, IWO JIMA, OKINAWA, HONSHU, AND SHIMIZU, WITH STOPS IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. REMAINED WITH THE USS RINGGOLD UNTIL IT WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN 1946.