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Private First Class Ray Tollefson

2nd Ranger Battalion

Born in Northern Michigan, Ray Tollefson joined the US Rangers aged just 18. A year later he landed on with the 2nd Rangers near to the heavily fortified village of Vierville.

Within minutes of leaving the landing craft, Tollefson was hit and seriously wounded. He spent the day drifting in and out of consciousness, slowly dragging himself up the beach as chaos and carnage unfolded around him.

Knowing he would die if he did nothing, Private Tollefson finally made it to the medical post and was taken out to a hospital boat lying off .

Since he has been back to many times to pay his respects to the friends he lost. A hole of the golf course now overlooking the beach bears his name.