A short preview into his life....
"..John Ray Jr. was the oldest of four of Nora and John Ray Sr. and that he attended Gretna High School, which is know Thomas Jefferson High School. His father was a military veteran, having served in WW1, so it was no surprised that in 1940 he and his brother were brought into the war. Being the most athletic of he and his brother, he became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne.
He had jumped in North Africa and Sicily before he participated in D-Day.
He was a brave and respected and skilled soldier.
Unfortunately, his last landing was the last day of his life.
On the morning of June 6, D-Day, he and the other paratroopers dropped from the sky as a part of Operation Neptune/Overlord.Tthe mission for his division was to take Saint Mere Eglise. His plane dropped him near the church in Saint Mere Eglise and he landed near the famous soldier, John Steele, who was deafend by the church bells when he was hanging from the church. John Ray was shot in the stomach upon landing and the German officer that shot him had no idea that he was still alive so the officer turned his back to him and John used his last breath to save his fellow comrades on the church. He shot the German officer dead with a quick shot to the head. He was awarded the purple heart for this. .."
excerpt from Eulogy given at the United States Cemetery in Normandy, France by Kalie Indest.
Above is just a short look at the life of John Peter Ray, a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne that died on D-Day. Of course this is just a short summary of the life he lived. This site is dedicated to John Ray for serving our country and for fighting for our freedom. I encourage you to learn more about this brave soldier through these pages and help keep his story going.
He had jumped in North Africa and Sicily before he participated in D-Day.
He was a brave and respected and skilled soldier.
Unfortunately, his last landing was the last day of his life.
On the morning of June 6, D-Day, he and the other paratroopers dropped from the sky as a part of Operation Neptune/Overlord.Tthe mission for his division was to take Saint Mere Eglise. His plane dropped him near the church in Saint Mere Eglise and he landed near the famous soldier, John Steele, who was deafend by the church bells when he was hanging from the church. John Ray was shot in the stomach upon landing and the German officer that shot him had no idea that he was still alive so the officer turned his back to him and John used his last breath to save his fellow comrades on the church. He shot the German officer dead with a quick shot to the head. He was awarded the purple heart for this. .."
excerpt from Eulogy given at the United States Cemetery in Normandy, France by Kalie Indest.
Above is just a short look at the life of John Peter Ray, a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne that died on D-Day. Of course this is just a short summary of the life he lived. This site is dedicated to John Ray for serving our country and for fighting for our freedom. I encourage you to learn more about this brave soldier through these pages and help keep his story going.
