Memorial Page, Ray A. O'Dell

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Honoring Ray A. O'Dell

"Go Rest High On That Mountain"

I love you and miss you dad,
you taught me well.
Your son, Sgt. Gerald
Ray O'Dell
G Co. 75th Airborne Rangers,
Viet Nam, '67, '68, '69

Ray O'Dell was born March 30, 1925 in Tioga, West Virginia. At the young age of 18 he volunteered to join the United States Army on March 19, 1943. On June 19, 1942 Major William O. Darby was given top secret orders to form an all volunteer Ranger task force. After completing the normal Army training, Col. Darby appeared and explained to the men that he was seeking the best and only the best to be assigned to Darby's Rangers, which would go behind enemy lines and destroy communications sites, ammo storage facilities and disrupt the German forces in any way possible prior to the actual invasion of U.S. troops.

Ray O'Dell served with Darby's Rangers in WWII. He was a Rifleman and Squad Leader, overseas for 20 months in the European Theater of Operations, North Africa, Sicily and Italy with 1st Ranger Battalion. Was acting squad leader in combat. Wounded in action and captured at Cisterna, Italy, January 1944 and remained Prisoner of War for 15 months at Stalag Z B, Hammerstein, Germany. Was liberated by the U.S. Army.

Awards Received: E.T.O. Ribbon with 2 Battle Stars, Purple Heart, American Theater, Good Conduct, Victory Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.

Ray O'Dell married and raised a family of 3 sons. He died July 15, 1981, at the age of 56 years old of a massive heart attack. He was a retired nuclear power plant construction supervisor. He was buried in a private family plot in Tioga, West Virginia.