DAVID ROBERT "BOBBY" RAY
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENT
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| DAVID ROBERT RAY
Rank and organization: Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, U.S.
Navy, and
Congressional Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HC2c. with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HC2c. Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HC2c. Ray was forced to battle 2 enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1 and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HC2c. Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HC2c. Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
The
Congressional Medal of Honor, the Names, the Deeds.
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| Subject: David R Ray
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 1999 23:42:59 -0700 From: danny mitchell <mitch@ligtel.com> To: ladyejane@InfoAve.Net I served with Doc Ray from 8-68 until
his death on 3-19-69. I was with him several hours before he was
killed. He came down to my bunker to check on my condition and brought
me several pairs of socks. He was very concerned with everyone's
well being. I will never forget him and the night we got over run.
I would like to visit his grave site some day, may be this fall. I live
in Indiana my name is Danny Mitchell. I went to the Viet Nam wall back
in '89. I found his name and some of the other guys' names that were
killed that night.
[Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell did come to McMinnville and visit Bobby Ray's grave, Sept. 1999.] |
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Dear MS Hunter, I am a former Marine living in Murfreesboro. The article in the paper regarding Mr. Ray on Saturday in the Daily News Journal is prompting this message. I want to express my deep respect and admiration to this man's family. Your email address is the only one I have found and I am not quite sure of your relation to him. I want you and the other members of his family and friends to know that there are many Marines of the Viet Nam era, and before and after, that have a special place in their heart for Mr. Ray and for the many other Hospital Corpsman who have fought with the Marines. They ARE Marines in our eyes! When you have time please send me a note with the email, etc., of members of his family and friends. I would like to convey the thanks for his service for other Marines. Thank you and Semper Fidelis, Roy Cannon
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