January 9, 2012 - Ray Benjamin Reeves - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hometown Patriot: Jan. 9, 2013 - Ray Benjamin Reeves

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REEVES, LA (KPLC) -

The Army Air Corps originally drafted Ray Benjamin Reeves as a cook in 1944. But after he arrived in Europe, they assigned him to refueling airplanes fighting against the Axis powers.   Ray had three other brothers serving overseas at the time. He says they had one worried mother back home in Reeves. 

"She didn't show her grief very much," said Reeves. "She didn't let people know that she was hurt. I know she hurt. It hurt all of us to be away from our families, you know."

He was later moved to the Pacific theater and remembers being transported by a transport plane over Burma.

"One of the engines quit. The pilot came on the speaker and told us if we see the red light flash 3 times, hit the door."

His unit didn't have to parachute and his unit arrived safely. He and his brothers all survived the war.

"The good Lord shoved all four of us through. We all came back safe and sound. But back then, I wasn't living for the Lord. But I knew the way to go."

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