Ray "Pop" Boyce spent about 90 continuous days on the front lines with his two best buddies, Bill Frieze and Barney Gossen. He and Barney carried Bill, who was sick with dysentery, around for 4 days rather than split up.
Their camaraderie was described in Paratroopers' Odyssey, A History of the 517th Parachute Combat Team
http://www.517prct.org/documents/odyssey/paratroopers_odyssey.htm
"A team comprised of Bill Frieze, Barney Gossen and Ray "Pop" Boyce, all of Headquarters Second Battalion, earned a reputation as "jeep liberators first class." They often went to Rome via provided truck, but seldom came home without another jeep. On one such excursion they were pursued by an MP jeep. Frieze, riding in back, recalls the MPs got nasty and started shooting at their vehicle. He noticed a knapsack filled with smoke grenades, promptly began to toss them out at intervals, and eluded the "posse".".
He was killed on Feb. 6, 1945 by a German sniper while walking down the street with Bill Frieze (Find A Grave Memorial#: 130399569) in a small, liberated French town.
Ray L. Boyce
HOME OF RECORD:
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Army
Rank: Corporal
Division: 13th Airborne Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 13th Airborne Division, General Orders No. 13 (1945)
CITATION:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Corporal Ray L. Boyce (ASN: 37566639), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company F, 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team, during World War II.
Ray "Pop" Boyce spent about 90 continuous days on the front lines with his two best buddies, Bill Frieze and Barney Gossen. He and Barney carried Bill, who was sick with dysentery, around for 4 days rather than split up.
Their camaraderie was described in Paratroopers' Odyssey, A History of the 517th Parachute Combat Team
http://www.517prct.org/documents/odyssey/paratroopers_odyssey.htm
"A team comprised of Bill Frieze, Barney Gossen and Ray "Pop" Boyce, all of Headquarters Second Battalion, earned a reputation as "jeep liberators first class." They often went to Rome via provided truck, but seldom came home without another jeep. On one such excursion they were pursued by an MP jeep. Frieze, riding in back, recalls the MPs got nasty and started shooting at their vehicle. He noticed a knapsack filled with smoke grenades, promptly began to toss them out at intervals, and eluded the "posse".".
He was killed on Feb. 6, 1945 by a German sniper while walking down the street with Bill Frieze (Find A Grave Memorial#: 130399569) in a small, liberated French town.
Ray L. Boyce
HOME OF RECORD:
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Army
Rank: Corporal
Division: 13th Airborne Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 13th Airborne Division, General Orders No. 13 (1945)
CITATION:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Corporal Ray L. Boyce (ASN: 37566639), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company F, 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team, during World War II.
Inscription
CPL 517 PRCHT INF REGT MINNESOTA
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Family Members
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