ND Veterans Affairs News: State

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to First Lieutenant Clarence Edward Van Ray (MCSN: 0-6495), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, in the Philippine Islands Area in 1942.

Lieutenant Williams was one of the 1,619 prisoners marching through Manila€™s dusty streets on their way from Bilibid Prison to the Japanese ship Oryoku Maru.  The Oryoku Maru was not marked as a Prison-Of-War vessel. Being unmarked, the ship was bombed and strafed by American planes from the aircraft carrier Hornet on both December 14 and 15. On the morning of December 15, 1944, the Oryoku Maru sank in Subic Bay (Phillipine Islands), about 300 yards offshore.

• Appointed Mountrail County Veteran Service Officer January 1, 2019
• Served as Assistant Mountrail Veteran Service Officer January 2, 2004 - January 1, 2019