Raymond Spears McElyea was born at Rogersville, Tennessee, the son of Robert Edward McElyea and Margaret Mae Sensabaugh. Brother of Charles E. McElyea, Homer Carson McElyea, and Leon McElyea. Husband of Rosa Katherine Anderson.
Private First Class Raymond S. McElyea enlisted on May 3, 1944, in Camp Shelby, MS and was assigned to Company C, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. In January 1945 the Division was attacking the Siegfried Line.
PFC McElyea was born on 28 May 1919 he was killed in action on 24 January 1945. He is interred in Lynnhurst Cemetery in Knoxville Tennessee along with his brother Charles who was lost earlier in the war.
The Knoxville Journal, February 18, 1945
Two of the three sons in service of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McElyea of 115 West Tennessee avenue are casualties, according to War Department notice received by their families.
Pfc. Raymodn McElyea, 25, husband of Mrs. Katherine Anderson McElyea of 205 East Delaware Avenue was killed in action Jan. 24 in Belgium while serving with the infantry. Entering service in May, 1944, het ook his basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla. And went overseas in October, 1944.
Pvt. Charles E. McElyea, 27, husband of Mrs. Eleanor Stahl McElyea of 2001 East Fifth Avenue, has been missing in action since Dec. 17 in Luxembourg. Also training at Camp Blanding, Fla., he was serving with the infantry when reported missing.
In addition to taking their basic training at the same camp, both were Knoxville High School graduates, Raymond McElyea in May 1941, and Charles McElyea in 1936. Both were employed by Southern Railways prior to joining the Army and were members of Lonsdale Baptist Church.
The third brother, Cpl Homer McElyea, is serving in Belgium.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 28 May 1919
- Date of death: 24 January 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Raymond S. McElyea
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