His name is Raymond Anthony, Jr,
born in Stockton, California, and raised in the
Sierra’s…Lake Tahoe Area, Donner Summit, Blue Canyon,
Colfax, Weimar and he moved to Sacramento in 1957. He
graduated from Sacramento Sr. High School.
At age 16, he enlisted in the
US Marine Corps and underwent Basic Training at Marine Corps
Recruit Depot in San Diego, California.
1966 was his first of four tours
of Viet Nam in the I Corps area. Areas of operation were
from Chu Lai, south of Da Nang to areas north of the
DMZ. Raymond had been wounded multiple times by the end
of his last tour which ended in 1973.
During his 14 year Marine Corps
career, he was a Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego, and
later an instructor at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis,
Maryland.
His occupational fields were:
Armored Amphibian Crewman in which he reached the positions
of Section Leader, and later, platoon sergeant; Marksmanship
Training Instructor and competed as a Rifle, Pistol and
Skeet Shooter for the First and Second Marine Divisions;
Education Instructor; and Military Policeman.
Sgt. Anthony left the Marine
Corps in 1978 and returned to California were he worked in
Law Enforcement; private security, and for the State of
California.
In 1995, at age 50, he enlisted
in the California Army National Guard after failed attempts
to re-enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve. Because of prior
injuries in Viet Nam, he was unable to pass the Corps’
physical requirements.
Prior to 9/11, his Son Gary, a
former Marine, joined Sgt. Anthony's unit in the Guard, and
by coincidence, was assigned to his Squad. He was his squad
leader and was thrilled to have his son serving with him.
Two days following 9/11, his
platoon was State activated and sent to San Luis Obispo,
CA., were they provided security for the base. Several
weeks later, their unit, the 270th Military
Police Company, was Federalized and they were transferred
to Fort Lewis, WA. There they under went training and later
provided base security and Military police operations.
Released from active duty in
late 2002, the 270th MP Co., Sgt. Anthony
returned to Sacramento, only to be re-activated for the
second time in less than two years.
The 270th MP Co. then
trained in Fort Lewis before being flown to Kuwait, and
later arriving in Baghdad, Iraq.
Having conducted day & night
patrols, convoy escorts, and highway security, Sgt
Anthony was wounded on July 5, 2003 during a night patrol,
about twenty minutes out of Baghdad.
His vehicle was struck by a
rocket propelled grenade which exploded about two to three
feet from his face, causing injuries to the right side
of his face, neck, arm, groin, both legs and feet. The
hummer in which he and his team rode, was engulfed in
flames. After getting his team out of the kill zone and the
burning hummer, he was on the ground engaged with enemy
Iraqis. His son Gary went to his aid and provided covering
fire for him. His son didn’t realize that it was his
injured dad on the ground. He just knew that someone was
injured and needed help.
Realizing that it was Gary, Sgt.
Anthony informed him that he was injured and needed medical
treatment. He then called out for a medic. Sgt.
Anthony was medi-vaced to Baghdad, later to Kuwait, then to
Germany and on to Walter Reed, then to Madigan Hospital in
WA. He is presently undergoing medical treatment at Mather
VA Medical Center, in Sacramento.
Sgt. Raymond Anthony and
his son, along with the 270th MP Co, returned
from Iraq in February 2004. One member of their company was
killed on Christmas Day, while patrolling at the Baghdad
Airport.
This is the legacy of our valiant veteran
who joins us in tribute today.
Some Sacrificed.... Some Sacrificed
their all.
with your suggestions or to volunteer.
