PFC Ray Hern (WWII)


Remembering PFC Ray Hern

December 29, 1908 - September 2, 1944

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PFC Ray Hern (Service #35739799) was born in Erie, WV (Harrison County) on December 29, 1908, the son of John "Jack" and Tennessee (Wilson) Hern. Ray grew up in Worthington where Jack was an "oil field worker" (1910 Census) and on Rarker Run Road in the Paw Paw District, where Jack was a farmer (1920 Census). Ray only attended school through 7th grade.

On June 22, 1928, Ray married Ida Leo Wilson in Clarksburg, WV. At the time, they were both living in Enterprise, just over the border of Marion County into Harrison County. 

The 1930 Census found them living with Leo's mom, Sarah, in Bingamon near Worthington, WV (Marion County). At the time, Ray was working as a coal miner. The duo then lived in Hutchinson on New Hill Road, where Ray worked as a coal loader (1940 census).

Military Service:

Ray entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He listed his hometown as Worthington and his employer as Consolidated Coal in Carolina, WV. At that time he was 5'10"1/4 and 158 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. He enlisted almost two years later, on October 12, 1942, in Clarksburg.

He served in the 133rd Engineer Combat Battalion, which helped place bridges for the Allied Forces. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information available publicly about the 133rd Engineer Combat Battalion's whereabouts during that time frame.

PFC Ray Hern was killed in action on September 2, 1944, at age 36.

Legacy:

PFC Ray Hern is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. 

He is also honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV, and on the Worthington Honor Roll. 

Survivors:


Ray was survived by his wife of 16 years, Leo, his mother, and five siblings (two sisters, three brothers). He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Hern (aortic stenosis, 1931) and two siblings: Claude (1893-1902), D. William (cerebrospinal meningitis,1898-1901)

Ray's younger brother, PFC Roy Hern, also served in WWII with the 83rd Infantry Division, 329th Infantry Regiment, Company K.

Leo married widower Walter C. Patrick (1900-1983) in 1948, and remained in Marion County until her death in Monongah in 2006.

Sources and More Information:



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