Raymon D. Hales

  General Notes:

Taken from the Memorial Hall at Brigham Young University.

It was Jnauary of 1953 and Blaine Hales, the oldest of five siblings from Mapleton, Utah, found himself prepariang to leave home. With the battle of Korea at hand, Blaine had been called into service with the United Sates Army and would be leaving soon. A close family, for the Hales, this would be a difficult goodbye. Blaine recalls;-
"One night, just before I was to leave, I heard a noise coming from the corner where we kept the coats. Going over, and pulling away some of the coats, I saw that it was Ray. He was about 11 years old at the time. he was crying. He was crying because I was leaving, and he would miss me. He didn't want me to go."

Raymond D. Hales was born in Mapleton, Utah on February the 13th in 1942. Ten years younger than his oldest brother, Blaine, he was one of four boys and a girl. Two of his older brother, Blaine and Boyd Hales remember him as " quiet and shy, Ray awas a good kid, with a dry sense of humor. he was very thoughtful and tenderhearted." Growing up in an active L.D.S. home, Raymon was very religious. In school he was a member of the FFS, and spent some time with the Boy Scouts as well. At neneteen years of age Raymon was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was to labor in London, England. Later, Raymon would remark to others that his service as a missionary was "the highlight of his life"

After his mission, Raymon spent some time living with Blaine and his wife in souther California while he attended school there. It was through his older brother Merril's associations with, Lori, a young lady at Brigham Young Universith, that Raymon was able to meet her roommate, Eunice Larson of Emmett, idaho. Eunice and Raymon began dating in October of 1967. They were engaged just before Raymon left for Fort Dix. new Jersey to begin his basic training. Like his brother before him, Raymon was drafted into the United States Army and answered his country's call.

Upon completion of the eight-week basic training course and the advanced individual training course. Raymon was set to serve in a Quarter Master unit. At this time he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School back at For Dix. Though he was successfully completed OCS, and "evern as they were handing him his uniform, Raymond declined his commission, not wanting to sign the contract for the additional year of service"

Raymon was willing to serve his time and fulfill his duty, but found civilian life more to his enjoyment. With a Bachelors degree in history or library science, Raymon wanted to pursue a Masters degree and had hopes to teach high school in Provo, or another of the small communited neighboring his hometown of Mapleton. While on leave during his service, Raymon and Eunice were married December 28, 1968 in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Eurnice joined Raymon in Fort Benning after their wedding. A short time later she returned to Brigham Young University to finish her studies. Raymon had been assigned to attend Scout Dog School at Fort Benning in Georgia. his dog's name was Baron and as Eunice recalls, "the two developed quite an attachment with one another" While living at Fort Benning, the Hales attended church in a ward with many other young military couples and saw many separations because of the war in Vietnam. They were faced with the reality that at the end of Raymon and Baron
's twelve-week course, they too would be separated for a time.

Raymon and Barone arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam in 1969. Affected adversely by the tropical climate, Barone would not work. Raymon said goodbye to Baron, as he was send back to the United States for "retraining" Raymon remained in Vietnamd and received Reble, and "in-country" K - 9 companion who had been in Vietnam a while. For two weeks, Raymon worked with Rebel, getting to know one another before being assigned to the 101st Airborne. Soon after his arrival with the 101st Airborne, Raymon was given the nickname "Moses" by his fellow soldiers because of his religious convictions, So impressed was his Company Commander, Lt. Eugene Amerson, by his example that the two became fast friends.

On July 19th 1969 during a perimeter check with another scout dog and trainer, Spc Hales and Rebel were killed in action, being set upon by an enemy ambush. That night Lt, Amberson went personally to retrieve the bodies of his friend. Spc Raymon D. Hales, and the others killed in the suprise attach. In a letter written by Lt. Amerson to Eurnice and the Hales family, "Gene" expressed his deepest condolences and personal loss stating that "all the really good ones were taken" The letter was sent and was received by Eunice (then two montsh pregnant with their daugher, Raylyn) and the rest of the Hales family.

Decorated posthumously with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, Raymon D. Hales is laid to rest in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. The Hales family, though shocked and deeply affected by the loss of thier son, brother, husband, and father, are nevertheless very proud of the service to God and country rendered by Raymon. His military service was underscored by his commitment to live what he believed. Because of his "shing example" Lt. Eugene Amerson was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while still in Vietnam. he went on to attend Brigham Young University and evern lived with the Hales family while he attended school. He married a L.D.S. girl and went home to Wisconsin, to later serve as a bishop.

Raymon married Eunice Larson. (Eunice Larson was born in Emmett Idaho.USA.)