Raymond Oates Boggess
Raymond Oates Boggess was born December 19, 1912 in Pottsville, Pope County, Arkansas. He was the youngest of eight children born to Arthur Haise Boggess and Magnolia Elizabeth Oates. Raymond grew up on the family farm in Galla Creek in Pope County. He labored on the farm while his father worked at the general store. He was living with his family in 1930.
When he was about 30 years old, Raymond enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 24, 1942. He was not married when he enlisted. He had one year of college education and his Civil Occupation was that of a Blaster or Powderman. He was 5’ 10” tall and slender, weighing in at 157 pounds. He was a Private in the 161st Infantry 25th Division.
Following is an excerpt from “A Brief History of the 25th Infantry Division”:
On 3 August 1942 the 298th Infantry Regiment was replaced by the 161st Infantry Regiment of the Washington National Guard which had been in route to the Philippine Islands when the Japanese attacked and was diverted to Hawaii. In November 1942 the Division underwent intensive jungle and amphibious warfare training and sailed for Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands to relieve the 1st Marine Division. The 25th operating as part of the XIV Corps commenced offensive operations against the Japanese on 7 January 1943. In less than a month and against a determined enemy who offered fierce resistance the 25th Division wiped out the Japanese dug in on Mount Austin and conducted an envelopment through the jungle to cut off retreating Japanese forces. For its valor on Mount Austin the 35th Infantry Regimental Combat Team consisting of the 35th Infantry Regiment, the 64th Field Artillery Battalion and the 25th Reconnaissance Troop was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. The operations of the 25th Division on Guadalcanal were impressive, earning it the nickname of "Tropic Lightning".
Raymond Oates Boggess was killed on January 27, 1943 in the conflict at Guadalcanal. He was 30 years old at his death.
Raymond’s awards included the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart Medals. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of The Pacific, located at 2177 Puowaina Drive Honolulu, HI 96813. His burial plot is located in Section E, Site 295.
