World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Raymond Odell Grizzle
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Taylor, Virginia
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Army July 31, 1943 at Abingdon, Virginia and deployed to the European Theater of Operations after the completion of his Basic Combat Infantry Training and Chemical Schooling. Experienced combat as a member of the Second Platoon assigned to Charlie Company, 87th Chemical Battalion, attached to the 8th Infantry Regiment, a subordinate unit of the 4th Infantry ‘Ivy’ Division. He participated in the Battle of Normandy, D-Day, Tuesday, June 6, 1944, the invasion of Germany’s Fortress Europe, Code Name: Operation Overlord. His battalion went ashore on Utah Beach, during the assault on the German Army defenses. Killed in Action Monday, June 19, 1944 in the vicinity of Montebourg, France and buried in the Saint Mere Eglise #1 Battlefield Cemetery in Carentan, France. A truck loaded with ammunition that was parked in his work area suddenly exploded, cause unknown and undetermined. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains were returned to his family. Accompanied by a Military Escort, he was laid to rest in the Holston View Cemetery, Gate City, Virginia on May 23, 1948. Decoration and Citation: This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.