On the recordMay 8, 2013
I am proud to say that on Sunday, the Vietnam War veteran, Raymond Clark Thompson's name is being added to the Vietnam War Memorial wall, where he will be remembered for his valiant service in the Army and the extraordinary sacrifice for our country. A native of Indiana and the oldest of six children, Ray served in the Vietnam War as a radio specialist. On June 6, 1969, rockets were fired into Raymond's base camp, causing shrapnel to explode into his body from head to toe as he showered. Despite suffering severe wounds, Raymond, at age 21, persevered and went on to have a full life, later marrying his wife, Patricia, and fathering three children. And he later worked as a health technician in the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, my hometown, where he gave back to veterans like himself. Sadly, he fell ill in recent years to old war injuries and passed in October of 2010. With Raymond's name joining all the other valiant men and women at the Vietnam War Memorial, we're reminded every day of the bravery of the men and women who serve in our military and who are willing to sacrifice their lives for our own freedoms. ____________________
