1925-2005
Staff Sergeant Raymond M. Kirkland enlisted in the U. S. Army on March 12, 1943, and entered combat with Company F, 320th Infantry on July 19, 1944. A week later he won the Silver Star for gallantry in action when he advanced alone ahead of his unit to knock out an enemy machine gun position. In April of 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross when he and his men crossed the Saar River, knocked out two machine guns, and organized a strong defense which defeated the German counterattack and allowed the 320th Infantry to cross the Saar River. He was discharged in 1945 and died in 2005 in San Antonio, Florida.