Raymond De Luca - Specialist 4 (SP4)

Hometown:
Belleville
D.O.B.:
February 12, 1948
County:
Essex
Rank:
Specialist 4 (SP4)
Branch:
Army
Date of Casualty:

June 27, 1968

Casualty Status:
Killed In Action
Country of Incident:
South Vietnam

Raymond P. De Luca was born on February 12, 1948, to Charles and Sophia Musko De Luca. His home of record is Belleville, NJ. He had one brother, Gerard. Raymond attended Essex Catholic High School in Newark, NJ, where he graduated as an honor student in 1966. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Scholarship finalist, and served as editor-in-chief of the school’s yearbook, Talon. He also was a member of Boy Scout Troup 152, Nutley.

Raymond continued his education at William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, but decided to enlist and serve with his brother, Gerard, who was aboard the USS Barney off the coast of Vietnam.

He served in the US Army and attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4). After training as an engineer at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and as a medic at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, De Luca was attached to Company C, Ninth Medical Battalion, 9th Infantry.

De Luca was killed in action on June 27, 1968, as a result of wounds received in a firefight.

A Solemn High Requiem Mass was offered at Holy Family Church, Nutley. He was interred at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield, NJ.

Sources: Anthony Buccino (author of Belleville Sons Honor Roll) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024

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