World War II Honoree

Ray Dean McCraw

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON DECEMBER 29, 1942 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, ASSIGNED TO COMPANY D, 119TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 30TH INFANTRY ‘OLD HICKORY’ DIVISION IN FIELD TRAINING AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED COMBAT AS A LIGHT MACHINE GUN SQUAD LEADER (MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 604) ON JUNE 15, 1944 NEAR ISIGNY, FRANCE. FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN UNTIL WOUNDED BY ENEMY ACTION ON JULY 13, 1944, ONE MILE FROM ST. LO. EVACUATED FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE FOR TREATMENT BY THE 280TH STATION HOSPITAL AND RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 29, 1944 FOR CONVALESCENCE AT O’REILLY GENERAL HOSPITAL, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY AS A CORPORAL ON MAY 29, 1946 AT O’REILLY GENERAL HOSPITAL.