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| 55k | David R. Ray, Hospital Corpsman Second Class, United States Navy for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Corpsman with Battery D, 2nd Battalion at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa on 19 March 1969. During the early morning hours an estimated battalion sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the Marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, Petty Officer Ray moved parapet to parapet, rendering emergency -medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a Marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded Marine, Petty Officer Ray was forced to battle two enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing one and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. once again, Petty Officer Ray was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. Petty Officer Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded Marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. Through his determined and preserving actions, courageous spirit, and loyalty to the welfare of his Marine comrades, he served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. Petty Officer Ray's exemplary conduct, steadfast determination, and unwavering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. /s/ Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States | Bill Gonyo | |
| 175k | Undated, location unknown. | - | |
| 133k | Undated, location unknown. | Jerry Hays | |
| 119k | Undated, location unknown. | William T. Larkins | |
| 59k | Undated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA. | Mike Smolinski | |
| 125k | Undated view of the USS Peterson (DD-969), USS Caron (DD-970) and USS David R. Ray (DD-971) under construction at Pascagoula, MS from the NAVSEA Journal. | Bob Bush | |
| 44k | Panama Canal December 1977. | Marc Piché | |
| 84k | January 15 1980, Indian Ocean, a port bow view of the destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971 ) as seen from the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63). | Fred Weiss | |
| 59k | Seattle August 1980. | Marc Piché | |
| 68k | Seattle August 1980. | Marc Piché | |
| 72k | San Diego January 10 1984. | Marc Piché | |
| 54k | San Diego January 10 1984. | Marc Piché | |
| 133k | DN-SC-86-03200. October 12 1985, the Spruance-class destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971) passes Alcatraz Island, with crewmen manning the rail during San Francisco Fleet Week '85 activities. U.S. Navy Photo by PH3 J.W.R. Oslund. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 111k | San Diego in 1990. | David Buell | |
| 32k | Victoria, BC December 5 1992. | Marc Piché | |
| 114k | DN-ST-94-02158. An informal portrait of Commander Alberto E. Vasquez, Jr., commanding officer of the destroyer USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971) on the bridge of his command. Cdr. Vasquez is one of only four Hispanic officers to command surface ships in the U.S. Navy. Long Beach photo by PH1 Bob Shanks, November 1 1993. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 28k | San Francisco October 1995. | Marc Piché | |
| 92k | San Francisco October 1995. | Marc Piché | |
| 85k | The destroyer USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971), underway during fleet operation in the Eastern Pacific on Sept. 30, 1997. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 85k | September 15 2000, the Destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971 ) (Spruance class), in the Pacific Northwest during the People`s Republic of China "Goodwill Cruise 2000." | Fred Weiss | |
| 25k | Decommissioning ceremony February 28 2002. | Paul Yarnall | |
| 50k | February 21 2008, Spruance class ex-David R. Ray is swinging to a buoy in Sinclair Inlet just south of Bremerton. Preparing for a SINKEX. | CDR Pete Leenhouts, USN (Ret.) | |
| 86k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski | |
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Steve Korpal
Address: 938 Big Dalton Avenue, La Puente, CA 91740
Phone: (626)327-5425
E-mail: stevedd971@aol.com or skorpal@willdan.com
Next reunion: Feb 26-Mar 2, 2002 at Everett, WA
Note About Contacts.