Ray Kyle Beets was the youngest of four Beets brothers who fought in WWII. There were five boys in the family of Henry Edgar Beets and Edna May Rich. Ray was born February 2, 1926, in Bean Station (Grainger County), Tennessee. His family moved to Morristown when the Cherokee Dam was built, and the waters of the lake covered the Beets family home. Ray was a Junior at the Morristown East High School when he enlisted in the Army on April 7, 1944, in Forrest, Mississippi.
Private Ray K. Beets was assigned to the 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division. He died on January 2, 1945 and is interred at A,24,32 Lorraine American Cemetery, St-Avold, France.
The Morristown Gazette mail, 21 March 1945
Private Ray K. Beets, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Beets, Upland Terrace, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, according to a press release from the public relations office of the U.S. 7th Army, received by this office today. Pvt. Beets was reported as missing in action on January 2nd, and his parents stated today they had received no additional information concerning him. He was sent overseas in October, 1944, and was serving with the 100th Division of the 7th Army, in Luxembourg when reported missing. It is presumed he was cited for the award prior to being reported as missing in action. The badge is awarded for satisfactory performance of duty in ground combat against the enemy.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 2 February 1926
- Date of death: 2 January 1945
- County: Grainger
- Hometown: Upland Terrace
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Battle of the Bulge
- Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge
- Burial/Memorial Location: Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold (Moselle), France
- Location In Memorial: Pillar IX, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Ray K. Beets
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