World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Hooley B. Raper
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Mayes County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, INCLUDING AT CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS, AND FORT DIX AT WRIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY. HIS UNIT STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON MARCH 14, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MARCH 24, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON APRIL 5, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH COMPANY F, 2ND BATTALION, 359TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 90TH INFANTRY ‘TOUGH ‘OMBRES’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN. HIS REGIMENT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 4TH INFANTRY ‘IVY’ DIVISION FOR THE NORMANDY, FRANCE INVASION, AND LANDED ACROSS UTAH BEACH ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY). FIRST LIEUTENANT RAPER WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN EUROPE. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING) AND BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE BY HIS REGIMENT DURING SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY FORCES IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER IN 1944.