Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – Another Hero of The Greatest Generation – Thank You for Your Service, Sir.
Four years ago this month I had the honor and privilege of being on an Honor Flight from Austin, Texas with 25 WWII Veterans. It was the maiden Honor Flight taking these heroes to see the memorial in their honor. Mr. Ray Halliburton was one of them.
Dr. Tom Matthews, Ray Halliburton and J.V. McClananhan. The Boys from Luling, Texas .Photo by me.
Mr. Ray had never been to Washington D. C. I snapped this photo of him just as we arrived at the WWII Memorial.
Mr. Ray died on June 11 2016 at age 91 years. His obituary follows. It is interesting. However, I encourage you to click on the link at the end. It is a link to a Smithsonian Article published in January 2016 about him. You can read his words about the sacrifice he and all veterans make for us daily.
From the Gonzales Paper – Ray Halliburton, of Luling, died June 11, in Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. He was born November 14, 1924. In 1944 he was drafted into the US Army and went to basic training at Camp Walters, in Mineral Wells. He was a Corporal when he went ashore in France in July 1944, one month after D-day. He was a member of K Company, Third Battalion, Tenth Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry “Red Diamond” Division, in Patton’s Third Army.
He fought three months of fierce combat across 500 miles and had risen to staff sergeant and squad leader. He was 20 years old. He was captured on December 5, 1944, just outside Saarbrucken, Germany, when his unit advanced ahead of the others. He was liberated by the Russian Army in 1945 from Lukenwalde. He was a farmer and rancher for most of his working life.
Thanks Ray. Glad I got to know. You made a difference to me and to the world we live in.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/portrait-american-hero-greatest-generation-180957678/?no-ist
Here's What I'm Thinking 