The family of
Raymond Barron Chavez has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor this hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.
Ray Chavez, 106, enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1938, three years before the start of WWII. After various assignments, Ray was eventually assigned to the
USS Condor (AMc-14), a wooden-hulled fishing boat converted into a coastal minesweeper ported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, Ray was at the Helm of the Condor sweeping the restricted waters near the entrance of Pearl Harbor when the crew spotted the periscope of an unidentified midget submarine attempting to covertly enter the harbor. They notified Pearl Harbor Command. The Wickes-class destroyer USS Ward (DD-139) was dispatched and sank the Japanese target. Unwittingly, and with the assistance of Ray and the Condor crew, this would be the first strike for the United States in World War II.
Completing his shift at 6am, Ray returned to his Naval housing in Ewa Beach only to be awakened a short time later by his wife telling him the harbor was on fire and that we were under attack. Ray immediately reported for duty and was astonished by the devastation he saw on Battleship Row; all eight of the battleships were either damaged, destroyed or on fire.
In 1943, Ray volunteered to build ships and reported to Treasure Island Naval Station Hunters Point Annex in San Francisco. During the remainder of his service he went on eight transports helping to deliver tanks and Marines to shores around the Pacific. Ray was honorably discharged in 1945 at the rank of Chief Quartermaster (CQM).
In 2017, Ray was honored by the US Postal Service with his own stamp and this past May he traveled to Washington DC to meet the president of the United States. At its peak, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, of which Ray was a member, had 58,000 members. Today, with fewer than 200, it continues without its oldest member.
NOTE: This will be an hours-long, 2 part mission. Please attend all or any part(s) you can.
Part 1: We will accompany this hero from the mortuary to the church service.
Part 2: We will accompany from the church service to the cemetery. NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family to the church service and then to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Part 1 Time Table for Thursday, December 13, 2018:0830 - Stage at Poway Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064
https://goo.gl/maps/TWt3adnayAq 0915 - Mission Briefing
0930 - Flag Line for Dignified Transfer to Coach
0940 - KSU for St Michael’s Catholic Church, 15546 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA 92064
https://goo.gl/maps/P5ZT2188Nc42 1000 - (Est) Arrival at St Michael’s Catholic Church
1010 - Flag Line for Dignified Transfer into Church
Part 2 Time Table for Thursday, December 13, 2018:1030 - Stage at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 15546 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA 92064
https://goo.gl/maps/P5ZT2188Nc421100 - Mission Briefing
1115 - (Est) Flag Line for Dignified Transfer to Coach
1130 - KSU for Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr, San Diego, CA 92122
https://goo.gl/maps/Xe7wWx4KXDz 1230 - (Est) Arrival at Miramar National Cemetery
1300 - Flag Line, Funeral Service with Full Military Honors
R/C: Mike “Dr Fix It”
SoCalPGR - Ride Captain
drfixit@vcweb.org
760-715-5554
Raymond B Chavez 3/10/1912 – 11/21/2018 You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there 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.
