World War II Honoree

Raymond Walter

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Spokane, Washington

Honored By

Orville L, Kline

Relationship

Friend

Rank: Torpedoman’s Mate First Class. He enlisted into the United States Navy July 23, 1940, at Portland, Oregon with Basic Military Training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp and with additional training; he was transferred to the USS Herring Submarine (SS-233) for duty. The USS Herring with her Shipmate’s were assigned duty with the Submarine Forces and located in the Pacific Theater of Operations. May 16, 1944, the USS Herring departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on her Eighth War Patrol, topping off with fuel and other provisions at the United States Naval Air Station, Midway Island. The USS Herring set sail to the Kurile Islands and located in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. June 1, 1944, the Ship’s Captain dropped anchor, off the coastal shores of Matua Island. Imperial Japanese coastal shore Artillery Battery’s Shelling scored two hits on the Sub’s Conning Tower, and she went down into the deep waters. He was reported “Missing-in-Action” or Buried at Sea along with his gallant crew members, gone without a trace and will “Remain on Eternal Patrol”. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.