World War II Honoree

Elizabeth N. 'Betty' Ray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. IN 1940 TO TAKE A CIVILIAN PUBLIC-RELATIONS POSITION WITH THE WAR DEPARTMENT. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942 WITH THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC), THE FORERUNNER TO THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS (WAC). APPLIED FOR, WAS ACCEPTED AND ATTENDED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT DES MOINES, IOWA. UPON GRADUATION, WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A PLATOON COMMANDER OF A WAC PLATOON ATTACHED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT, WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HER RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.