On occasion, the Republic-Monitor must publish a correction to a story, but printing a correction for a story that was initially published 83 years ago is, without a doubt, an unusual occurrence.
A special section published in our June 27 issue recognizing the Republic-Monitor’s 135th anniversary featured a story from a December 1941 issue of the Perry County Republican that reported the death in combat of an 18-year-old Perry County man named Frederick Harrison Ray, who had entered the U.S. Navy on Jan. 7, 1941.
While neither the time nor location of his death was listed in the story due to U.S. Navy wartime policy, it later came to light that at the time of his reported death, Ray was serving on a Naval battleship in port during the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The story noted that Ray was the first casualty of a Perry County resident in “the present conflict,” which would later be referred to as World War II.
The story said that a memorial service was to be held at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 1941, at the Perryville Baptist Church, where Ray was a member, and it was. But here’s where the need for a correction comes in — the young man wasn’t dead.
A day or so after the special section ran in the paper, John Rauh, a volunteer with the Perry County Military History Museum, dropped by the Republic-Monitor office to inform the staff about his research on Ray.
“I read the article in the newspaper and saw that he was the first World War II casualty in Perry County,” he said. “That seemed strange to me because I know that the Perryville VFW is named in honor of the first two World War II casualties from Perry County — and his name wasn’t Fisher or Walter. So, then I went and looked, and his name was not shown as a casualty from World War II, and his name wasn’t on the stone over there at the courthouse.”
Rauh thought the entire story was “weird,” so he Googled the name Frederick Harrison Ray, and an obituary popped up.
Pointing at a copy of Ray’s obituary, Rauh said, “It says down here that he was initially considered a casualty of war for which a premature funeral was conducted — so they actually had the funeral. Then they came to find out that he was alive.
“He was on the USS California during Pearl Harbor, and I guess they thought he got killed. They sent a telegram to his parents, and I guess they must have had the funeral right away — but then he was found alive and well. He stayed in the Navy for 19 more years. Then he worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 20 years.”
According to Ray’s obituary, he died on Nov. 26, 2010, at the age of 86. He was described as “a quiet and humble man who was dedicated to his family, loved gardening, tinkering in his garage and golf. He was very proud of his tomato plants and shared with all.
“Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Marian. He is survived by his children, Charlotte Vertefeuille, Chuck Ray and Rick Ray. His grandchildren include Megan and Courtney Ray, Erin Ray, Alicia, Holly, Ian and Shane Vertefeuille. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren. At his request, there will be no services. He will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery.”
In light of the newspaper publishing Ray’s obituary 68 years prematurely, the Republic-Monitor stands corrected and regrets the error.
