IN MEMORIAL
MAJOR Raymond Henry Edgerly, often called "Ray," was born October 8, 1919, in St. Louis, Missouri. He descended from Judge Thomas Edgerly who arrived at the Oyster River Settlement, New Hampshire from England in 1665. He was the ninth in his line, which included soldiers who fought in every major War in this country's history. Several of his Puritan progenitors arrived with John Winthrop's fleet in 1630.
He was most proud of his grandfather 5 generations ago who stormed the bastion of Louisburg, Nova Scotia with General Pepperell in 1745; of james, his great, great grandfather who served with General John Sullivan in 1776; and of his grandfather Major Henry Clay Edgerly who was wounded at Seven Pines, in 1863, white serving with the Michigan 5th Infantry and later, became the Commanding Officer of the 8th Michigan Cavalry.
Raymond received most of his education in California where his family moved via the old plank road near Yuma in 1926, Parts of the old road can still be seen.
He attended Compton Junior College, where he met Dorthea, who was destined to become Mrs. Edgerly in early 1942.
He was an active member of the 40th Division, California National Guard in 1940, and rendered service to the State of California until his unit was federalized in early 1941. He was selected and completed training in battlefield surgery and medical aid at Ft. Bliss, Texas in 1941. He was selected to attend Officer' Candidate School at Abilene, Texas and graduated in July 1942, as A second Lieutenant, class number one, Medical Service Corps.
In 1943, he was transferred to a Medical unit and served in the North African Campaign. Later, he served with units conducting anti-submarine warfare along the South American Coast. Of his several decorations, the one he was most proud, was his Medical Combat Badge and his claim to have belonged to the Old Brown Shoe Army "before Pearl Harbor."
He continued his service after the war, as a Reserve Officer, with periods of active duty, until his retirement in 1979, after thirty-nine years of service.
During these years, he was graduated with a Masters Degree in Medical Parasitology from the University of Southern California Medical School and he received a Masters in Public Health Degree from the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.
Between his service in the Army, he managed to serve in three Health Departments, as Deputy Health Officer. These were: Riverside, Los Angeles City and Orange County. He served as a Deputy Health Officer in Orange County until his retirement in 1983.
He served as a Board Member and Treasurer to the Oceanside Manor Home Owners Association for eight years. He was a member of the Carlsbad Genealogical Society, a life member of the Reserve Officers Association and a Life Member of the 63D Infantry Division Association where he served as a member of the Board of Governors and as Treasurer.
Raymond was a private man, an intellectual who was an avid reader of history, with special interest in the Civil War, science and biography.
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