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Billy Ray White

Billy Ray White was born in North Carolina. After high school he received his draft notice, which stated that he had 30 days to choose a branch of service. So at the age of 19, Billy joined the United States Navy. He did this for two reasons: first, the Navy would...

PhM2c Leonide Benoit “Lee” Soucy

I had just had breakfast and was looking out a porthole in sick bay when someone said, “What the hell are all those planes doing up there on a Sunday? ” Someone else said, “It must be those crazy Marines. They’d be the only ones out maneuvering...

CPT Rae Mary Leff

Serving as a nurse aboard the hospital ship USS Repose, anchored off the coast of Vietnam, Captain Rae Mary Leff treated casualties airlifted from the field by helicopter. While she was not in harm’s way, she witnessed the effects of combat through the patients she...

Lt(JG) William “Bill” Gardner

I served as “M” Division officer on the Idaho from July 1944 thru decommissioning in May 1946. I am 97 and healthy, living in an independent retirement facility [Letter dated 12/7/17]. All my family has settled in NC, including son and daughter, 4 grands...

Seaman Raul Herrera

San Antonio native Raul Herrera was slim as a beanpole when he joined the United States Navy, and he quickly earned the nickname “Bean.” He served in Vietnam as a sailor patrolling the coastal waters in a Patrol Craft Fast (PCF), better known as a Swift Boat. As the...

William J. “Doc” Boatman

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Served with 3rd Bn. 7th Marines and Aboard USS Eldorado (AGC-11) First of all I joined the Navy in Oklahoma, not in Texas, although my parents lived in Fredericksburg at the time, so technically I am a Texas Vet. In 1965 I was a Pharmacy...