*last update 8/5/2023

ServiceMen

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Military Involvement

 

Servicemen * Ra - surnames

Earl Sydney Rae was born Apr. 19, 1920 to George Marchant and Edwina Maude Ginn Rae. He died Jan. 31, 2004 and is buried in Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport, IA.

Earl served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 1st Fighter Control Squadron, 303rd Fighter Control Squadron and 18th Fighter Control.

Source: ancestry.com


Alton T. “Al” Rafdal was born Jan. 6, 1916 to Torger E. and Hanna Owenson Rafdal. He died May 3, 2009 and is buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO.

Sgt. Rafdal served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 6th Bomb Squadron.
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Albert Herman Rafdal was born Jan. 6, 1916 to Torger E. and Hanna Owenson Rafdal. He died Feb. 27, 2007.

Albert served in World War II with the U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division, 1st Army.
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Donald Theory Rafdal was born May 30, 1926 to Torger E. and Hanna Owenson Rafdal.

Donald served in World War II with the U.S. Navy.

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Elwood L. Rafdal was born Aug. 6, 1922 to Torger E. and Hanna Owenson Rafdal. He died May 12, 2017 and is buried in Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, IA.

Petty Officer Rafdal served in World War II with the U.S. Navy as a crew chief in a B-24 bomber flying anti-sub patrols while stationed in Europe, Africa and Bermuda.

Source: ancestry.com


James Francis Raftis was born Dec. 24, 1919 to Lawrence Joseph and Catherine Grace Connor Raftis. He died June 16, 1996 and is buried in Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, IA.

James served in World War II with the U.S. Army 58th and 159th Infantry.

Source: ancestry.com


Otis Leon “Bud” Ragsdale was born Oct. 4, 1918 to Leland and Bessie Elliott Ragsdale. He died Sept. 27, 1994 and is buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

Pvt. Ragsdale served in World War II with the U.S. Army 2830th Engineer Combat Battalion.

Source: ancestry.com


William Alpha Ramay was born Aug. 13, 1907 to Alpha Ross and Isabelle Haywood Ramay. He died Sept. 22, 1978.

William served in World War II with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Source: ancestry.com


Harold Earl Ramsey was born Mar. 16, 1925 to Harry and Mabel Ramsey. He died Nov. 3, 1944, was buried at sea, and is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Petty Officer Ramsey served in World War II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Reno (CL-96) and was KIA when that ship received two torpedo hits on her port side fired from a Japanese submarine. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Source: ancestry.com


Forest Gail Randol was born Nov. 18, 1921 to Otho Vernon and Eva Fern Beach Randol. He died Apr. 23, 1990 and is buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vancouver, WA.

Forest served in World War II with the U.S. Army 348th Field Artillery Battalion, 91st Division and Headquarters Company, Okinawa Base Command.

Source: ancestry.com


Fay Kenneth Rankin was born Mar. 31, 1913 to Creed William and Elva E. Tight Rankin. He died Jan. 18, 1980 and is buried in Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento, CA.

Sgt. Rankin served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 5th Air Force, 1541st and 1540th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance.

Source: ancestry.com


George Alvin “Buster” Rapson was born June 21, 1923 to George Phillip and Naomi Evangeline Larson Rapson.

Lt. Rapson served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific.

Source: ancestry.com


James Rasmussen was born Dec. 6, 1922 to George P. and Rosa Nelson Rasmussen. He died Mar. 17, 1993 and is buried in Sanders Cemetery, Lowell, IN.

Petty Officer Rasmussen served in World War II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Massachusetts (BB-59) taking part in the African invasion and later serving in the Pacific.

Source: ancestry.com


Raymond Willis Rasmussen was born Aug. 14, 1920 to Antone Nels and Mabel Egenes Rasmussen. He died Sept. 8, 1987.

Raymond served in World War II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Greene (DD-266) and USS Mount Baker (AE-4).

Source: ancestry.com


Robert Keith “Bob” Rasmussen was born Feb. 4, 1919 to Rasmus O. and Anna Mae Woster Rasmussen. He died Feb. 18, 1965 and is buried in Roland Cemetery, Roland, IA.

Robert served in World War II with the U.S. Army.

Source: ancestry.com


Benford Lawrence Rasmusson was born Dec. 16, 1900 to Bernard A. and Laura Bremson Rasmusson. He died Jan. 31, 1980 and is buried in Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, IA.

Benford served in World War II with the U.S. Army 37th Division, 145th Infantry.

Source: ancestry.com


Gordon Rasmusson was born July 31, 1921 to S. G. and Ruth Lindblad Rasmusson. He died Apr. 17, 1945 and is buried in Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames, IA. 

Capt. Rasmusson served in World War II with the U.S. Naval Air Corps and died when his Navy scout bomber crashed in OH. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extra-ordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy as a pilot attached to a Marine dive bombing squadron operating in the Solomon Islands and Bismark Archipelago area of the south Pacific. 

Source: ancestry.com 


Harry Russell Rasmusson was born July 12, 1916 to Walter Christopher and Lillie Mae Scott Rasmusson. He died July 13, 2008 and is buried in Nevada Municipal Cemetery, Nevada, IA.

Harry served in World War II with the U.S. Army 90th Infantry Division “Tough Ombre” combat engineers. He landed on the coast of Normandy, France on D-Day, serving in Europe until the end of the war. The 90th Division participated in every major battle of WWI. He received several citations, including the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in combat.

Source: ancestry.com


Alfred Earl “Al” Rau was born Oct. 29, 1921 to John and Emelia Knodel Rau. He died Nov. 25, 2017 and is buried in Center Cemetery, Lafayette Township, Story County, IA.

Al served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European Theatre.

Source: ancestry.com


J. Neil Raudabaugh was born July 26, 1907 to Joseph Eugene and Fanny Jane Burr Raudabaugh. He died Nov. 7, 2006 and is buried in Geneseo Cemetery, Buckingham, IA.

Cdr. Raudabaugh served in World War II with the U.S. Navy.

Source: ancestry.com


Charles Archie Ray was born Oct. 30, 1910 to Charles and Cora Woten Ray. He died Dec. 7, 2011 and is buried in Maxwell Cemetery, Maxwell, IA.

Charles served in World War II with the U.S. Army in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands.

Source: ancestry.com


Lyle Luverne Ray was born May 10, 1920 to Lawrence M. and Grace E. Smith Ray. He died May 22, 1995 and is buried in Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Petty Officer Ray served in World War II with the U.S. Navy.

Source: ancestry.com


Maynard Mansfield Ray was born Nov. 15, 1921 to Charles G. and Agda Eudora Anderson Ray. He died Dec. 10, 1990.

Pvt. Ray served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps.
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Roger Eugene Ray was born Dec. 1 3, 1919 to Charles G. and Agda Eudora Anderson Ray. He died June 6, 1977.

Maj. Ray served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps in England and Holland. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star and a citation.
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Charles Gardner Ray, Jr. was born Oct. 12, 1923 to Charles G. (Sr.) and Agda Eudora Anderson Ray. He died Dec. 31, 1978 and is buried in Nevada Municipal Cemetery, Nevada, IA.

Col. Ray served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps Air Transport Command. He also served in Korea.

Source: ancestry.com


Ralph H. Ray was born June 18, 1921 to James Ira and Serena Mathilda “May” Bybee Ray. He died July 22, 1976.

Ralph served in World War II with the U.S. Army 387th Signal Wing Company, Americal Infantry Division in the Pacific and 306th Engineer Combat Battalion in Japan.

Source: ancestry.com


Eugene Luverne “Gene" Raymond was born Jan. 13, 1920 to Lars J. and Emma Marie Valen Raymond. He died Dec. 20, 1991 and is buried in Roland Cemetery, Roland, IA.

Sgt. Raymond served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 2532nd Base Unit.
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Virgil Robert Raymond was born July 9, 1923 to Lars J. and Emma Marie Valen Raymond. He died Dec. 9, 2004.

Virgil served in World War II with the U.S. Army.

Source: ancestry.com


Earl Myron Raynes was born June 25, 1899 to Elling G. and Martha Tesdall Raynes. He died Nov. 19, 1975 and is buried in Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames, IA.

Earl served in World War II with the U.S. Army.

Source: ancestry.com



ServiceMen Research done by WWII Researcher, Pat Holt Juon, Apr 2019; updated May 2020 & Aug 2021 & Aug 2023

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