Ray Lawrence Gleason (1919 - 1943)

Born 1 Dec 1919 in Lilley, Newaygo, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Aug 1943 at age 23 in Ploieşti, Prahova, Romania

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Biography

Ray L. Gleason was born on December 1,1919 in Lilley, Newaygo, Michigan to Ernest Gleason and Mabel David. ^[1]

In 1930, Ray lived with his parents and siblings on the family farm in Saline, Washtenaw, Michigan.^[2] By 1940, Ray had completed one year of college. He lived with his family in Pittsfield Township in Washtenaw. ^[3]

On July 1, 1941, Ray registered for the United States World War II military draft in Ann Arbor, Washteman, Michigan. ^[4] He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan on January 2, 1942. ^[5]

Ray served as a Staff Sergeant Gunner with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II with the 345th BS 98th Bomb Group. He was killed in action on August 1, 1943, along with the other nine crew members aboard the aircraft "Old Baldy", during the "Operation Tidal Wave" bombing mission to destroy Romanian oil refineries. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster for valor on this mission. He was also awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Purple Heart. There is a military memorial gravestone for Ray in Oakhill Cemetery, Saline, Washtenaw, Michigan.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZQL-ML7 : accessed 18 August 2018), Ray Gleason in household of Ernest Gleason, Lilley, Newaygo, Michigan, United States; citing ED 176, sheet 4A, line 4, family 68, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 787; FHL microfilm 1,820,787.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7MV-13D : accessed 18 August 2018), Ray Gleason in household of Ernest E Gleason, Saline, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 35, sheet 8A, line 42, family 164, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1029; FHL microfilm 2,340,764.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K41Y-G2W : Sun Mar 10 08:53:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Ernest E Gleason and Mabel L Gleason, 1940.
4. ↑ "Michigan, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8L-5SKZ : Sat Mar 09 06:56:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Ray Lawrence Gleason and Ernest E. Gleason, 1 July 1941.
5. ↑ "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GW-ZXC : 5 December 2014), Ray L Gleason, enlisted 02 Jan 1942, Detroit, Michigan, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
6. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55101289/ray-l-gleason : accessed 18 August 2018), memorial page for SSGT Ray L Gleason (1 Dec 1919–1 Aug 1943), Find A Grave Memorial no. 55101289, citing Oakhill Cemetery, Saline, Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Old Bones (contributor 47251769) .