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Lt Raffety attended Pine Bluff High School and worked as a caretaker at the National Guard Armory.

He joined the Guard on 23 December 1940. He received his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, and then saw service with his unit in Alaska. Upon returning to the United States, he entered into the Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 23 February 1943 with the rank of Master Sergeant (normally the rank in OCS is Staff Sergeant) until he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 26 May 1943. He was appointed as an instructor at the school but in August of 1943 he transferred to the Paratroopers and attended Airborne School. After graduating from jump school, Lt Raffety was sent to Rigging and Maintenance School. After completing that course, he was sent to Camp McCall, North Carolina, for intensive overseas training. After that final round of stateside training, Lt Raffety departed the United States and landed in Northern Ireland in Fenruary 1944, and then on to England to prepare for the invasion of France. He was one of the first Airborne officers to land on French soil on 6 June 1944 due to his assignment to the 101st Airborne Division.

Lt Raffety was also later involved in the heavy fighting around Cherbourg and all other engagements his regiment participated in until they were returned to England for rest, re-fitting and further training.

On 17 September 1944 the 101st took part in Operation Market Garden, the invasion of the Netherlands. Lt Raffety was assigned as a platoon commander of C Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. His platoon was involved in heavy fighting and he was wounded in the legs by shrapnel on 17 September 1944. Ever the resolved and dedicated soldier, he did not let these wounds debilitate him and was soon back in charge of his men. Lt Raffety was killed in action leading his platoon against the enemy on 30 September 1944.

He was initially buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Son, the Netherlands. He was given his final resting place at Margraten on 13 December 1948.