Raymond P. Nagell JR.

Born:                             09 February 1922                 Minneapolis, MN                    

Enlistment date:            29 December 1942                  Fort Snelling, MN      

Deployments:                Europe - 05 Sep 1943

Units:                             Battery B , 321^st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 101^st Airborne Division

Rank:                            Private First Class

Specialisations:             Gunner

Qualifications:               Combat Infantryman Badge

Decorations:                  World War II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars and 2 Bronze Arrowheads, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal , French Croix de Guerre, Belgian Croix de Guerre, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Orange Lanyard

Discharge Date:            19 October 1945                     Camp Grant, IL

Other Information:          The above photo of Ray was taken in England in 1943. At the time, Ray was billeted is the horse stalls Watcome Farm near Newbury, Berkshire. On D-Day 6^th June 1944, Ray’s glider battery was destined not to fly into Normandy, but to land on the beaches. He originally considered to be a far better option that landing by glider, but as it turned out, he was sadly mistaken. Ray later landed by glider as part of the 101^st mission in Operation Market Garden and was also trucked into Bastogne. He has the unique experience of participating in all three of the 101^st Airborne’s major WWII campaigns and was delivered to each by a different method. truck, landing craft and glider.