Ray, David R.
David R. Ray was born in McMinnville, Tennessee, on 14 February 1945. He graduated from McMinnville High School in 1963 and attended the University of Tennessee until March 1966, when he enlisted in the Navy. Trained as a Hospital Corpsman, Ray served on board the hospital ship USS Haven (AH-12), at the Long Beach Naval Hospital, and at Camp Pendleton, California, prior to beginning duty in the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968. On 19 March 1969, while serving with Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, at Phu Loc 6 in Quang Nam Province, he was killed in action while providing medical aid to injured Marines during an enemy attack on his unit. Petty Officer Ray was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in that action.
USS David R. Ray (DD-971) is named in honor of HM2 Ray.
This page features a photograph of Hospital Corpsman David R. Ray.
