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name
MERRIT, Ray Thurman - Date of
birth
2 January 1922 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Atoka County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Caney, Atoka County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38400458 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
unknown -
Unit
C Company,
740th Tank Battalion,
1st Platoon
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1945 - Place of
death
The field between Düren and Girbelsrath, Germany
Girbelsrath, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert L. Merritt (father)
Willie (Mc Anally) Merritt (mother)
Erlyin Merritt (sister)
Robert E. Merritt (brother)
Clyde Merritt (brother)
Donald Merritt (brother)
Jack R. Merritt (brother)
Kenneth Merritt (brother)
A. Fay (Withrow) Merritt (wife)
Danny R. Merritt (son)
More information
Cpl Ray Merrit attended Caney High School and enlisted at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 22 February 1943.The platoon was ordered to advance across an open field between Düren and Girbelsrath against the advice of Lt Oglensky, the Platoon Leader. As a result three tanks were destroyed by 88 mm fire. Of the casualties, two men are buried at Henri-Chapelle: T/5 Grady Morris Jr. and Cpl Ray T. Merritt. Lt Oglensky's body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.
Cpl Merritt is remembered at the High Hill Cemetery, Atoky County, Oklahoma.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Merritt Family Tree, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report 740th Tank Battalion
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Emmanuel Papin, Atoka County Library - courtesy of Storiesbehindthestars.org