1924
Raymond
2006
Raymond L. Jackson
January 17, 1924 — October 31, 2006
Click here to view a selection of Ray's award winning photographs
Raymond L. Jackson, Fargo, ND, died Tuesday, October 31, 2006, in Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen, MN.
Raymond L. Jackson was born January 17, 1924, on a farm near Crystal, ND, one of eight children to Fred and Thora (Sparby) Jackson. The family moved to Fargo about 1930, where Ray attended public schools and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1943. He received his diploma after his discharge from military service in WW II.
Ray enlisted in the US Army in 1942. After basic training, he was sent overseas and made the "Long Road Back" with General MacArthur from Australia through New Guinea, the East Indies, and the Philippines to Manila, where his outfit received a unit commendation during the liberation.
After serving three and a half years in the military and being discharged as a sergeant, Ray returned to Fargo. He attended Moorhead State University, Interstate Business College, and Dakota Business College. With a yearning for travel, Ray moved to Los Angeles, CA, in 1949, where he attended Electronic Technical College for two years. He then obtained his US Merchant Marine Radio Officers license and went to sea in that position. He served on the US Navy's elite Military Sealift Command ships in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1952, Ray served as a Radio Officer on the USNS Gen. Walker on its famous trip around the world, which was a dream fulfilled for Ray: to make a trip around the globe.
In 1970, his ship, the USNS Miller, won the Navy "E" award as the best freighter in the Pacific. It was then given the "honor" of transporting the nerve gas from Okinawa to Johnston Island for which it received a presidential citation.
Ray retired on a disability in 1974, and returned to Fargo. He then attended Northwest Technical College, Moorhead, taking a course in amateur photography.
Ray was a member of the Fargo-Moorhead Camera Club, the American Legion, the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans for Peace, NARFE, and US Merchant Marine Retired Officers Association. Ray was a former leader of Boy Scouts of America Troop 17, Fargo
Ray leaves a sister, Alice Bateman, in Onalaska, WI; seventeen nieces and nephews; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by siblings, Alma Kelly, Peggy Ferguson, Betty Best, Agnes Countryma
Visitation for Ray will be Friday, November 3, 2006, from 2 - 4 PM, with the funeral at 4 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead. Burial, with full military honors, will be Saturday, November 4, 2006, at 11 AM, in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.
Memorials
Raymond L. Jackson, Fargo, ND, died Tuesday, October 31, 2006, in Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen, MN.
Raymond L. Jackson was born January 17, 1924, on a farm near Crystal, ND, one of eight children to Fred and Thora (Sparby) Jackson. The family moved to Fargo about 1930, where Ray attended public schools and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1943. He received his diploma after his discharge from military service in WW II.
Ray enlisted in the US Army in 1942. After basic training, he was sent overseas and made the "Long Road Back" with General MacArthur from Australia through New Guinea, the East Indies, and the Philippines to Manila, where his outfit received a unit commendation during the liberation.
After serving three and a half years in the military and being discharged as a sergeant, Ray returned to Fargo. He attended Moorhead State University, Interstate Business College, and Dakota Business College. With a yearning for travel, Ray moved to Los Angeles, CA, in 1949, where he attended Electronic Technical College for two years. He then obtained his US Merchant Marine Radio Officers license and went to sea in that position. He served on the US Navy's elite Military Sealift Command ships in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1952, Ray served as a Radio Officer on the USNS Gen. Walker on its famous trip around the world, which was a dream fulfilled for Ray: to make a trip around the globe.
In 1970, his ship, the USNS Miller, won the Navy "E" award as the best freighter in the Pacific. It was then given the "honor" of transporting the nerve gas from Okinawa to Johnston Island for which it received a presidential citation.
Ray retired on a disability in 1974, and returned to Fargo. He then attended Northwest Technical College, Moorhead, taking a course in amateur photography.
Ray was a member of the Fargo-Moorhead Camera Club, the American Legion, the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans for Peace, NARFE, and US Merchant Marine Retired Officers Association. Ray was a former leader of Boy Scouts of America Troop 17, Fargo
Ray leaves a sister, Alice Bateman, in Onalaska, WI; seventeen nieces and nephews; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by siblings, Alma Kelly, Peggy Ferguson, Betty Best, Agnes Countryma
Visitation for Ray will be Friday, November 3, 2006, from 2 - 4 PM, with the funeral at 4 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead. Burial, with full military honors, will be Saturday, November 4, 2006, at 11 AM, in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.
Memorials
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