Raymond Leon Bray was the son of railroad engineer Lonnie Abner Bray and his wife, Mattie Marie Hickman.
The 1930 US Census shows the Bray family as living in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas. The following family members are shown as living in the home at the time of the census:
Lonnie Bray Head 51
Mattie M. Bray Wife 32
L A Bray Son 14
Raymond L Bray Son 12
Gladys N Bray Dau 9
Billy J Bray Son 8
Dorothy S Bray Dau 5
Harry M Bray Son 2
Joseph A Hickman Bro-in-law 23
The 1940 US Census basically was the same as the 1930 Census but with the following changes:
Lonnie A Bray Head 61
Mattie M Bray Wife 42
L A Bray Son 24
Raymond L Bray Son 22
Billie G Bray Son 18
Dorothy S Bray Dau 15
Harry M Bray Son 12
On 9/13/1940 Raymond and his older brother, Lonnie “L.A.” Bray Jr., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, the Bray brothers were assigned to Headquarters Company, Second Marine Brigade as intelligence observers.
Raymond was then sent to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey, and while there, he volunteered for an experimental paratrooper unit that was being formed. He completed the training required of a “Paramarine” and shipped overseas to Wellington, New Zealand, as a member of the First Marine Parachute Battalion. His battalion was attached to the First Marine Division for the invasion of Guadalcanal but as a ground force instead of parachuting into action. They boarded the USS HEYWOOD and departed Wellington on 7/7/1942.
On 8/7/1942 the Paramarines climbed down into their landing crafts to begin their assault on the small island of Gavutu (another Marine force landed on Tulagi Island as well), not far from Guadalcanal where the main landings were to take place. The Paramarines had received a great deal of training to prepare them for this day. But on Gavutu, they first experienced the Japanese army's skill in defensive tactics. Company A of the Paramarines landed under little opposition, but when Raymond’s Company B landed, the Japanese hit them full-force.
Gradually, the Marines pushed the Japanese defenders back. But the accurate Japanese machine-gun inter-locking fire took a heavy toll on Company B. The disciplined bunker fire of the enemy guns was killing or wounding Marines on a continuous basis. As Raymond and the remnants of his team approached the slope of what was called Hill 148, he apparently realized that something had to be done and it was up to him to do it. Raymond rose from his position and charged towards a bunker that was firing a 3-inch gun and machine-guns and made it to the fortifications side door. He kicked in the door and immediately confronted a Japanese soldier and beat him with his Springfield 1903 bolt-action rifle in hand-to-hand combat. The gunners in the bunker focused their attention of Raymond, which allowed the rest of his squad to come up the hill and assault the bunker as well. The enemy were all killed and the Paramarines had control of a bunker situated on high ground, giving them a good view of other enemy bunkers/troops. Raymond's actions had not only saved many Marines' lives, he had also seized the day and put it in favor of the Marines.
But Raymond's luck as well as the rest of the Marines with him worked for only a brief time. A US Marine Dauntless Dive Bomber saw the ridge top of Hill 148 and the people running around firing down to the hills base. The pilot thought they were Japanese and dropped a bomb on their position. The resulting explosion killed the Marines on top of Hill 148, including Raymond (See note at end of this biography).
For his actions on Hill 148, Raymond was awarded the Navy Cross. His award citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Raymond Leon Bray (MCSN: 295600), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. When the progress of a company was retarded by heavy sniper opposition, Corporal Bray and others courageously attacked a heavily barricaded three-inch gun emplacement from which the deadly fire was emanating. Utterly disregarding his extreme danger, he charged forward and, without waiting for his comrades, unhesitatingly plunged through the entrance and in spite of great odds engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until reinforcement by other Marines insured elimination of the hostile position. Corporal Bray’s daring, aggressive, and gallant conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. In a subsequent operation against the enemy on the same day he gallantly gave his life for his country.
Raymond's remains were never found and it is believed those remains, as well as those of his com-padres, were obliterated by the bomb dropped on his position. Any remains that may have survived have been lost to time and the jungle on Gavatu.
The USS BRAY (DE-709) destroyer was named in Raymond's honor. The ship was commissioned in September, 1944, with his mother Mattie Bray, doing the christening. It mainly performed Atlantic submarine patrol duties in the American Theater of Operations. The ship also went to the aid of the coastal minesweeper HEROIC (AMc-84), saving her from sinking. At he war's closing, the BRAY had been turned into a transport ship and was used for training. It was decommissioned and "mothballed" on 5/10/1946 after less than two years of service. On 6/1/1960 the ship was struck from the books of Navy ships and on 3/27/1963, it was sunk during target practice, which is somewhat ironic in that Raymond was killed by American fire, and the ship named in his honor, was sunk by American fire.
Corporal Raymond Leon Bray, Sn# 295600, earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Marine Corps Silver Jump Wings
- Navy Cross Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation
- Combat Action Ribbon
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge
**NOTE** - Some accounts of Raymond's death state that he was killed by a grenade later in the battle. Reporting a hero killed by an enemy grenade rather than by friendly fire was more acceptable to families/friends at that time.
The 1930 US Census shows the Bray family as living in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas. The following family members are shown as living in the home at the time of the census:
Lonnie Bray Head 51
Mattie M. Bray Wife 32
L A Bray Son 14
Raymond L Bray Son 12
Gladys N Bray Dau 9
Billy J Bray Son 8
Dorothy S Bray Dau 5
Harry M Bray Son 2
Joseph A Hickman Bro-in-law 23
The 1940 US Census basically was the same as the 1930 Census but with the following changes:
Lonnie A Bray Head 61
Mattie M Bray Wife 42
L A Bray Son 24
Raymond L Bray Son 22
Billie G Bray Son 18
Dorothy S Bray Dau 15
Harry M Bray Son 12
On 9/13/1940 Raymond and his older brother, Lonnie “L.A.” Bray Jr., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, the Bray brothers were assigned to Headquarters Company, Second Marine Brigade as intelligence observers.
Raymond was then sent to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey, and while there, he volunteered for an experimental paratrooper unit that was being formed. He completed the training required of a “Paramarine” and shipped overseas to Wellington, New Zealand, as a member of the First Marine Parachute Battalion. His battalion was attached to the First Marine Division for the invasion of Guadalcanal but as a ground force instead of parachuting into action. They boarded the USS HEYWOOD and departed Wellington on 7/7/1942.
On 8/7/1942 the Paramarines climbed down into their landing crafts to begin their assault on the small island of Gavutu (another Marine force landed on Tulagi Island as well), not far from Guadalcanal where the main landings were to take place. The Paramarines had received a great deal of training to prepare them for this day. But on Gavutu, they first experienced the Japanese army's skill in defensive tactics. Company A of the Paramarines landed under little opposition, but when Raymond’s Company B landed, the Japanese hit them full-force.
Gradually, the Marines pushed the Japanese defenders back. But the accurate Japanese machine-gun inter-locking fire took a heavy toll on Company B. The disciplined bunker fire of the enemy guns was killing or wounding Marines on a continuous basis. As Raymond and the remnants of his team approached the slope of what was called Hill 148, he apparently realized that something had to be done and it was up to him to do it. Raymond rose from his position and charged towards a bunker that was firing a 3-inch gun and machine-guns and made it to the fortifications side door. He kicked in the door and immediately confronted a Japanese soldier and beat him with his Springfield 1903 bolt-action rifle in hand-to-hand combat. The gunners in the bunker focused their attention of Raymond, which allowed the rest of his squad to come up the hill and assault the bunker as well. The enemy were all killed and the Paramarines had control of a bunker situated on high ground, giving them a good view of other enemy bunkers/troops. Raymond's actions had not only saved many Marines' lives, he had also seized the day and put it in favor of the Marines.
But Raymond's luck as well as the rest of the Marines with him worked for only a brief time. A US Marine Dauntless Dive Bomber saw the ridge top of Hill 148 and the people running around firing down to the hills base. The pilot thought they were Japanese and dropped a bomb on their position. The resulting explosion killed the Marines on top of Hill 148, including Raymond (See note at end of this biography).
For his actions on Hill 148, Raymond was awarded the Navy Cross. His award citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Raymond Leon Bray (MCSN: 295600), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. When the progress of a company was retarded by heavy sniper opposition, Corporal Bray and others courageously attacked a heavily barricaded three-inch gun emplacement from which the deadly fire was emanating. Utterly disregarding his extreme danger, he charged forward and, without waiting for his comrades, unhesitatingly plunged through the entrance and in spite of great odds engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until reinforcement by other Marines insured elimination of the hostile position. Corporal Bray’s daring, aggressive, and gallant conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. In a subsequent operation against the enemy on the same day he gallantly gave his life for his country.
Raymond's remains were never found and it is believed those remains, as well as those of his com-padres, were obliterated by the bomb dropped on his position. Any remains that may have survived have been lost to time and the jungle on Gavatu.
The USS BRAY (DE-709) destroyer was named in Raymond's honor. The ship was commissioned in September, 1944, with his mother Mattie Bray, doing the christening. It mainly performed Atlantic submarine patrol duties in the American Theater of Operations. The ship also went to the aid of the coastal minesweeper HEROIC (AMc-84), saving her from sinking. At he war's closing, the BRAY had been turned into a transport ship and was used for training. It was decommissioned and "mothballed" on 5/10/1946 after less than two years of service. On 6/1/1960 the ship was struck from the books of Navy ships and on 3/27/1963, it was sunk during target practice, which is somewhat ironic in that Raymond was killed by American fire, and the ship named in his honor, was sunk by American fire.
Corporal Raymond Leon Bray, Sn# 295600, earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Marine Corps Silver Jump Wings
- Navy Cross Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation
- Combat Action Ribbon
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge
**NOTE** - Some accounts of Raymond's death state that he was killed by a grenade later in the battle. Reporting a hero killed by an enemy grenade rather than by friendly fire was more acceptable to families/friends at that time.
Raymond Leon Bray was the son of railroad engineer Lonnie Abner Bray and his wife, Mattie Marie Hickman.
The 1930 US Census shows the Bray family as living in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas. The following family members are shown as living in the home at the time of the census:
Lonnie Bray Head 51
Mattie M. Bray Wife 32
L A Bray Son 14
Raymond L Bray Son 12
Gladys N Bray Dau 9
Billy J Bray Son 8
Dorothy S Bray Dau 5
Harry M Bray Son 2
Joseph A Hickman Bro-in-law 23
The 1940 US Census basically was the same as the 1930 Census but with the following changes:
Lonnie A Bray Head 61
Mattie M Bray Wife 42
L A Bray Son 24
Raymond L Bray Son 22
Billie G Bray Son 18
Dorothy S Bray Dau 15
Harry M Bray Son 12
On 9/13/1940 Raymond and his older brother, Lonnie “L.A.” Bray Jr., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, the Bray brothers were assigned to Headquarters Company, Second Marine Brigade as intelligence observers.
Raymond was then sent to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey, and while there, he volunteered for an experimental paratrooper unit that was being formed. He completed the training required of a “Paramarine” and shipped overseas to Wellington, New Zealand, as a member of the First Marine Parachute Battalion. His battalion was attached to the First Marine Division for the invasion of Guadalcanal but as a ground force instead of parachuting into action. They boarded the USS HEYWOOD and departed Wellington on 7/7/1942.
On 8/7/1942 the Paramarines climbed down into their landing crafts to begin their assault on the small island of Gavutu (another Marine force landed on Tulagi Island as well), not far from Guadalcanal where the main landings were to take place. The Paramarines had received a great deal of training to prepare them for this day. But on Gavutu, they first experienced the Japanese army's skill in defensive tactics. Company A of the Paramarines landed under little opposition, but when Raymond’s Company B landed, the Japanese hit them full-force.
Gradually, the Marines pushed the Japanese defenders back. But the accurate Japanese machine-gun inter-locking fire took a heavy toll on Company B. The disciplined bunker fire of the enemy guns was killing or wounding Marines on a continuous basis. As Raymond and the remnants of his team approached the slope of what was called Hill 148, he apparently realized that something had to be done and it was up to him to do it. Raymond rose from his position and charged towards a bunker that was firing a 3-inch gun and machine-guns and made it to the fortifications side door. He kicked in the door and immediately confronted a Japanese soldier and beat him with his Springfield 1903 bolt-action rifle in hand-to-hand combat. The gunners in the bunker focused their attention of Raymond, which allowed the rest of his squad to come up the hill and assault the bunker as well. The enemy were all killed and the Paramarines had control of a bunker situated on high ground, giving them a good view of other enemy bunkers/troops. Raymond's actions had not only saved many Marines' lives, he had also seized the day and put it in favor of the Marines.
But Raymond's luck as well as the rest of the Marines with him worked for only a brief time. A US Marine Dauntless Dive Bomber saw the ridge top of Hill 148 and the people running around firing down to the hills base. The pilot thought they were Japanese and dropped a bomb on their position. The resulting explosion killed the Marines on top of Hill 148, including Raymond (See note at end of this biography).
For his actions on Hill 148, Raymond was awarded the Navy Cross. His award citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Raymond Leon Bray (MCSN: 295600), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. When the progress of a company was retarded by heavy sniper opposition, Corporal Bray and others courageously attacked a heavily barricaded three-inch gun emplacement from which the deadly fire was emanating. Utterly disregarding his extreme danger, he charged forward and, without waiting for his comrades, unhesitatingly plunged through the entrance and in spite of great odds engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until reinforcement by other Marines insured elimination of the hostile position. Corporal Bray’s daring, aggressive, and gallant conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. In a subsequent operation against the enemy on the same day he gallantly gave his life for his country.
Raymond's remains were never found and it is believed those remains, as well as those of his com-padres, were obliterated by the bomb dropped on his position. Any remains that may have survived have been lost to time and the jungle on Gavatu.
The USS BRAY (DE-709) destroyer was named in Raymond's honor. The ship was commissioned in September, 1944, with his mother Mattie Bray, doing the christening. It mainly performed Atlantic submarine patrol duties in the American Theater of Operations. The ship also went to the aid of the coastal minesweeper HEROIC (AMc-84), saving her from sinking. At he war's closing, the BRAY had been turned into a transport ship and was used for training. It was decommissioned and "mothballed" on 5/10/1946 after less than two years of service. On 6/1/1960 the ship was struck from the books of Navy ships and on 3/27/1963, it was sunk during target practice, which is somewhat ironic in that Raymond was killed by American fire, and the ship named in his honor, was sunk by American fire.
Corporal Raymond Leon Bray, Sn# 295600, earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Marine Corps Silver Jump Wings
- Navy Cross Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation
- Combat Action Ribbon
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge
**NOTE** - Some accounts of Raymond's death state that he was killed by a grenade later in the battle. Reporting a hero killed by an enemy grenade rather than by friendly fire was more acceptable to families/friends at that time.
The 1930 US Census shows the Bray family as living in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas. The following family members are shown as living in the home at the time of the census:
Lonnie Bray Head 51
Mattie M. Bray Wife 32
L A Bray Son 14
Raymond L Bray Son 12
Gladys N Bray Dau 9
Billy J Bray Son 8
Dorothy S Bray Dau 5
Harry M Bray Son 2
Joseph A Hickman Bro-in-law 23
The 1940 US Census basically was the same as the 1930 Census but with the following changes:
Lonnie A Bray Head 61
Mattie M Bray Wife 42
L A Bray Son 24
Raymond L Bray Son 22
Billie G Bray Son 18
Dorothy S Bray Dau 15
Harry M Bray Son 12
On 9/13/1940 Raymond and his older brother, Lonnie “L.A.” Bray Jr., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, the Bray brothers were assigned to Headquarters Company, Second Marine Brigade as intelligence observers.
Raymond was then sent to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey, and while there, he volunteered for an experimental paratrooper unit that was being formed. He completed the training required of a “Paramarine” and shipped overseas to Wellington, New Zealand, as a member of the First Marine Parachute Battalion. His battalion was attached to the First Marine Division for the invasion of Guadalcanal but as a ground force instead of parachuting into action. They boarded the USS HEYWOOD and departed Wellington on 7/7/1942.
On 8/7/1942 the Paramarines climbed down into their landing crafts to begin their assault on the small island of Gavutu (another Marine force landed on Tulagi Island as well), not far from Guadalcanal where the main landings were to take place. The Paramarines had received a great deal of training to prepare them for this day. But on Gavutu, they first experienced the Japanese army's skill in defensive tactics. Company A of the Paramarines landed under little opposition, but when Raymond’s Company B landed, the Japanese hit them full-force.
Gradually, the Marines pushed the Japanese defenders back. But the accurate Japanese machine-gun inter-locking fire took a heavy toll on Company B. The disciplined bunker fire of the enemy guns was killing or wounding Marines on a continuous basis. As Raymond and the remnants of his team approached the slope of what was called Hill 148, he apparently realized that something had to be done and it was up to him to do it. Raymond rose from his position and charged towards a bunker that was firing a 3-inch gun and machine-guns and made it to the fortifications side door. He kicked in the door and immediately confronted a Japanese soldier and beat him with his Springfield 1903 bolt-action rifle in hand-to-hand combat. The gunners in the bunker focused their attention of Raymond, which allowed the rest of his squad to come up the hill and assault the bunker as well. The enemy were all killed and the Paramarines had control of a bunker situated on high ground, giving them a good view of other enemy bunkers/troops. Raymond's actions had not only saved many Marines' lives, he had also seized the day and put it in favor of the Marines.
But Raymond's luck as well as the rest of the Marines with him worked for only a brief time. A US Marine Dauntless Dive Bomber saw the ridge top of Hill 148 and the people running around firing down to the hills base. The pilot thought they were Japanese and dropped a bomb on their position. The resulting explosion killed the Marines on top of Hill 148, including Raymond (See note at end of this biography).
For his actions on Hill 148, Raymond was awarded the Navy Cross. His award citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Raymond Leon Bray (MCSN: 295600), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. When the progress of a company was retarded by heavy sniper opposition, Corporal Bray and others courageously attacked a heavily barricaded three-inch gun emplacement from which the deadly fire was emanating. Utterly disregarding his extreme danger, he charged forward and, without waiting for his comrades, unhesitatingly plunged through the entrance and in spite of great odds engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until reinforcement by other Marines insured elimination of the hostile position. Corporal Bray’s daring, aggressive, and gallant conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. In a subsequent operation against the enemy on the same day he gallantly gave his life for his country.
Raymond's remains were never found and it is believed those remains, as well as those of his com-padres, were obliterated by the bomb dropped on his position. Any remains that may have survived have been lost to time and the jungle on Gavatu.
The USS BRAY (DE-709) destroyer was named in Raymond's honor. The ship was commissioned in September, 1944, with his mother Mattie Bray, doing the christening. It mainly performed Atlantic submarine patrol duties in the American Theater of Operations. The ship also went to the aid of the coastal minesweeper HEROIC (AMc-84), saving her from sinking. At he war's closing, the BRAY had been turned into a transport ship and was used for training. It was decommissioned and "mothballed" on 5/10/1946 after less than two years of service. On 6/1/1960 the ship was struck from the books of Navy ships and on 3/27/1963, it was sunk during target practice, which is somewhat ironic in that Raymond was killed by American fire, and the ship named in his honor, was sunk by American fire.
Corporal Raymond Leon Bray, Sn# 295600, earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Marine Corps Silver Jump Wings
- Navy Cross Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation
- Combat Action Ribbon
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Badge
- Marine Corps Basic Qualification Badge
**NOTE** - Some accounts of Raymond's death state that he was killed by a grenade later in the battle. Reporting a hero killed by an enemy grenade rather than by friendly fire was more acceptable to families/friends at that time.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
Family Members
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