Ray walked the point in Vietnam
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David Ray, of Fort Dodge, is 77 now and speaks like the friendly Christian man he is. But he was once a tiger leading other tigers into the dark jungles of Vietnam.
Ray was a point man in the United States Marine Corps as he and other Marines sought the enemies of their country. As point man, he walked ahead of the rest of the Marines looking for booby traps or any sign of the enemy. It was, as any combat veteran can tell you, kill or be killed.
Ray grew up and went to school in Grandview, Missouri. He was a fine athlete in school, prompting Northwest Missouri State to offer him a football scholarship. Ray struggled with grades, and the scholarship was withdrawn.
The war in Vietnam was raging then, and Ray was a patriotic and Christian young man. He joined the Marine Corps to fight and perhaps die for his God and his country. Not due to racism, to conquer imperialism or for any other reason than God and country.
Once in Vietnam, Ray was on a two patrol, meaning two different patrols moved forward some distance apart. As they drifted farther apart, the enemy caught sight of the patrol on Ray's right flank. They didn't see Ray's group, but as they rushed to reinforce, they ran unknowingly right into his patrol. Ray and his fellow Marines did what Marines do: they opened fire. End of reinforcements.
These men lived in the jungle for weeks at a time. Ray said he got three showers in one month. They ate cold food out of cans.
He lost several friends in combat.
Due to a non-combat related injury, Ray spent seven months in the country and was discharged. He returned to university and considered a career in law. He was a math whiz and instead became an engineer. Ray explained how packaging happened at a high rate with ordinary products such as potato chips. He met a girl from the area, and he's lived here for over 50 years. He's still a Christian, still loves his country. He wrote a book titled, "A Marine's Promise to God." He is a man content with life, proud of his service.
He was once a tiger.