Ramsey, Raymond Julius (P2, C3, L40)

Technical Sergeant Five Raymond J. Ramsey was born 7 April 1924, at Murl, Wayne County, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Kentucky National on 23 November 1940, at Monticello, Kentucky, with Battery D, 106th Separate Battalion, Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). He was inducted into federal service on 6 January 1941. Ramsey was killed in Italy on 6 October 1943. He is buried in the Stop Cemetery, Monticello, Kentucky.

Other casualties of the 106th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) (Self-Propelled) during World War II were: T/5 James C. Berry; T/5 Gordon B. Brooks; T/5 Joseph R. Carrico; PVT James J. Gannon and SGT John E. Parrott.

The reorganization of the United States Army shortly before World War converted Kentucky's 123rd Cavalry on November 1, 1940, as the 103rd Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion and the 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion.

The 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion, began training at Camp Hulen, located near Palacios, Texas, in January 15, 1941.  The unit arrived in Northern Ireland on May 15.  On October 19, when it was transferred to North Africa.  The battalion took part in Operation TORCH, the invasion of North Africa, arriving at Algeria on November 7.  Between November 17, 1942 to May 13, 1943, the 106th participated in the Tunisian Campaign.  The battalion left Africa and arrived in Sicily on July 10. The 106th participated in the Sicily campaign between July 9 and August 17.  On September 16, the 106th departed from Sicily and moved to Italy, remained there until August 12, 1944, and participating in the Naples-Foggia Campaign.  The battalion landed in Southern France on August 15.  The 106th left France on December 20 and went to Germany. The unit returned to the U. S.  December 2nd.  The battalion was inactivated the following day, December 3, 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York. On January 29, 1947, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion with Headquarters at Glasgow, Kentucky.  Currently the lineage and honors of the 106th is carried by the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery.

Raymond Ramsey Killed In Action

Wayne County Outlook, 3 November 1943.

The War Department through the local Red Cross Chapter, today notified Mr. John A. Ramsey, of Murl, that his son, Raymond, age 20, was killed in action in Italy on October 6th. He was a Technician 5th Grade. Raymond was a member of Battery D, of Monticello, which left here Jan. 13, 1940, for Camp Hulen, Texas, where they were trained for some months after which they were sent to England thence to North Africa then through Sicily and into Italy.