Raymond W. Braffitt was born in Newton, Massachusetts and grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts where he graduated from Watertown High in 1936. He enlisted in 1941 and served in both war fronts.
He went to the south Pacific in Jan 1942 serving in New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, he received a Presidential citation for recovering the body of a fellow soldier while under heavy enemy fire.
He was transferred to the operations in Europe where he served as an aid to General Seebree. On 17 Sep 1944, while on patrol as Battalion Intelligence Officer with the 320th Infantry east of the Moselle River, he engaged several German soldiers and was killed during the encounter. For his service, Lieutenant Raymond Braffitt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de guerre.
Raymond Braffitt's actions with the 320th Infantry on 17 Sep are detailed in Hugh M. Cole's 1993 book The Lorraine Campaign.
Distinguished Service Cross citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress 9 Jul 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Raymond W. Braffitt (ASN: 0-1325965), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 9 Jul 1944 to 17 Sep 1944. While on patrol as Battalion Intelligence Officer east of the Moselle River, Lieutenant Braffitt engaged several German soldiers and was killed during the encounter. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 35th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
References:
• 1936 Watertown High School, Watertown, Massachusetts, yearbook, page 17: https://www.watertownlib.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/291 .
• Nov 1942 Guadalcanal picture.
• 10 Oct 1944 Boston Daily Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, page 17 obituary.
• 1944 Distinguished Service Cross citation: https://homeofheroes.com/distinguished-service-cross/world-war-ii/distinguished-service-cross/army-b/ .
• 12 Jan 1945 newspaper clipping and medals assembled by Paulette Braffitt.
• 1993 Hugh M. Cole: The Lorraine Campaign: https://books.google.com/books?id=u1IIOKgeNHMC&pg=PA109 .
• 2024 FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L55S-TPL .
• 2024 Braffitt descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/BraffittDescendants.txt .
• 2024 Mosher descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/MosherDescendants.txt .
Raymond W. Braffitt was born in Newton, Massachusetts and grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts where he graduated from Watertown High in 1936. He enlisted in 1941 and served in both war fronts.
He went to the south Pacific in Jan 1942 serving in New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, he received a Presidential citation for recovering the body of a fellow soldier while under heavy enemy fire.
He was transferred to the operations in Europe where he served as an aid to General Seebree. On 17 Sep 1944, while on patrol as Battalion Intelligence Officer with the 320th Infantry east of the Moselle River, he engaged several German soldiers and was killed during the encounter. For his service, Lieutenant Raymond Braffitt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de guerre.
Raymond Braffitt's actions with the 320th Infantry on 17 Sep are detailed in Hugh M. Cole's 1993 book The Lorraine Campaign.
Distinguished Service Cross citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress 9 Jul 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Raymond W. Braffitt (ASN: 0-1325965), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 9 Jul 1944 to 17 Sep 1944. While on patrol as Battalion Intelligence Officer east of the Moselle River, Lieutenant Braffitt engaged several German soldiers and was killed during the encounter. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 35th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
References:
• 1936 Watertown High School, Watertown, Massachusetts, yearbook, page 17: https://www.watertownlib.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/291 .
• Nov 1942 Guadalcanal picture.
• 10 Oct 1944 Boston Daily Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, page 17 obituary.
• 1944 Distinguished Service Cross citation: https://homeofheroes.com/distinguished-service-cross/world-war-ii/distinguished-service-cross/army-b/ .
• 12 Jan 1945 newspaper clipping and medals assembled by Paulette Braffitt.
• 1993 Hugh M. Cole: The Lorraine Campaign: https://books.google.com/books?id=u1IIOKgeNHMC&pg=PA109 .
• 2024 FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L55S-TPL .
• 2024 Braffitt descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/BraffittDescendants.txt .
• 2024 Mosher descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/MosherDescendants.txt .
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