The family of Motor Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Ray has asked that the PGR escort from the family home in Lancaster CA. to BNC to his final resting place, we will be honored to do so.
Art Ray was a Navy sailor assigned to the USS Quincy heavy cruiser in 1944-45. The prior USS Quincy was sunk in a battle in the Pacific. The newly outfitted USS Quincy departed after sea trials to the Atlantic and European Theater of Operations. Art Ray, still in his teens, crewed on the USS Quincy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and combat patrols of the French coast that delivered ordnance from its big guns, hitting Nazi tanks, trucks, artillery and troops.
Returning to US Coastal waters and home port, Sailor Ray noted that the Quincy was being fitted with an elevator outside the hull superstructure. The elevator was to lift wartime President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wheelchair aboard to carry him on his way to the Yalta Conference with Winston Churchill and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin where they outlined some of the post WWII peace terms, re-stating unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan.
The USS Quincy was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations where its big guns participated in the final campaigns of the war against Japan. After Japan surrendered in the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb detonations, Art was aboard the USS Quincy when it anchored in Tokyo Bay for the Final Surrender documents signed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the deck of the USS Missouri. Sailors on ships in Tokyo Bay wore their whites and watched the ceremony at whatever vantage they could manage. Art was there.
Awards, Medals and Ribbons: //WWII Victory Medal//, American Area Ribbon,// European African Middle Eastern ribbon W/2 Stars//, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon w/2 Star Point System.//
NOTE: This mission posting facilitates your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying our hero and his family from the family home to his final resting place. Please see the timetable if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, We will meet you there.
Time Table for Monday, 24 OCT 22:1st Staging:1010 - Stage at Flying J Travel Center, 1668 East Tehachapi Blvd, Tehachapi,CA. 93561
https://goo.gl/maps/rAHyH7XRmfa5Vrni71015 - Mission briefing
1020 - KSU to Starbucks, 1845 West Ave I, Lancaster, CA. 93534
https://goo.gl/maps/tsTxKbzE5PsTZRUu71100 - Arrival at Starbucks
2nd Staging:1100 - Stage at Starbucks, 1845 West Ave I, Lancaster, CA. 93534
https://goo.gl/maps/tsTxKbzE5PsTZRUu71115 - Mission briefing
1130 - KSU to family home
1145 - Flag Line for transfer of Hero to family vehicle
1200 - KSU to Bakersfield National Cemetery, 30338 E. Bear Mountain Rd., Arvin, CA 93203
https://goo.gl/maps/DZcuRSPwbQNWjV9781330 - Arrival at BNC
1400 - Flag Line, Service and Military Honors
R/C Jim Jacobs
Tehachapi Area Ride Captainjj33503@comcast.net
541-915-0877
PGR Member 4-2006
US Army #3 4-72 to 1-74
Tanker in Regular Army
Spc 4 Driver for Command Sergeant Major
California National Guard 1-74 / 1-75
We encourage those who do not ride to participate in your car. If this is your first mission, go to the initial staging area, where you will be briefed by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent with honor and respect for our Heroes—no talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we honor.
