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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Dec '88
Raymond Emerson Orth, Jr. No.15829 Class of 1946
28 June 1987 in Spokane, Washington, aged 63 years
Interment: Wilbur Community Cemetery, Wilbur, Washington. |
Our Alma Mater has a unique way of impressing itself
on our values, our personalities, our very beings. In each of
us there lurks a substantial part of plebe year, with its demands,
its moments of frustration and its flashes of humor.
Ray Orth always saw the humorous side of life,
even in those early cadet days. In the years since then, through
an abbreviated career as an infantry officer, and a second career
in scientific computer programming, his sense of humor never
left him. He was a delight to know.
Ray once confided to his former roommate, "Whenever
I dream, it's never about Korea. It's always about West Point.
I'm standing at attention in the area, waiting to march to class,
but no one else is there. Or I'm in the company formation; everyone
else is wearing full dress uniform, but I'm in full field...."
Ray's was an upbeat personality. But he was also
reflective, thoughtful and considerate. Partly he was born with
these traits. But his character was also a product of his earning
the rank of Eagle Scout in Olympia, Washington, from where he
was appointed to West Point. At the Academy he qualified for
the cadet choir ("glooo--reee--toooo-- Gooood"), and
he enjoyed the choir trips.
After graduation he attended the Infantry School,
and served a 30 month tour in Japan. During that time he graduated
from the 11th Airborne Division's jump school. But he spent most
of that tour with the 24th Infantry Division.
On his return from Japan he was assigned to the
2nd Infantry Division, then at Fort Lewis, Washington. Not long
afterwards the division was ordered to Korea, where it took its
place in the Pusan perimeter defense. Ray was a front-line platoon
leader. One morning Ray was ordered to take a particular hill.
With no artillery support, he led his men, panting and running
up the hill into enemy fire. All of a sudden he felt as if he
had been hit across the back with a baseball hat. His platoon
sergeant rolled him into a hole, and at Ray's direction continued
the attack. The assault was successful. But Ray, shot through
the torso, was paralyzed from the waist down. He spent the next
two years in an Army hospital. Gradually Ray recovered most of
the use of his legs. He was promoted to captain. But this was
the end of his military career. He received a medical discharge
in 1952.
After he retired, Ray attended the University of
California, Berkeley and earned an AB degree in math, something
that would have pleased and perhaps surprised his Academy math
instructors. And in 1969 he earned a master of science degree
in math from the University of Southern California.
Ray was one of the class' last bachelors. But in
September 1963 he met the love of his life, Joan Rosman, a medical
technologist also from the State of Washington. They were married
in May 1964. Ray and Joan lived in Rancho Palos Verdes (Los Angeles)
with their three children, David, Paul and Allison, born in 1968,
1969 and 1970, respectively. When the three children were in
their early years, Ray used to joke, "I can't catch them
on my feet, but I can crawl faster than they can.
Based on his interest in math Ray developed a high
level of expertise in computer science, first with North American
Aviation, and then with TRW and the Aerospace Corporation. As
a member of the Aerospace technical staff from 1961 to 1986,
Ray contributed to the country's defense in a way he and the
rest of us could never have imagined that 4th day of June 1946,
when we all threw our hats in the air. He contributed directly
and with great expertise to the unfolding missile and space era.
In his famous speech at West Point, General Douglas
MacArthur said, "The thrust into outer space of the satellite,
spheres and missiles marks a beginning of another epoch in the
long story of mankind ... there has never been a greater, a more
abrupt or staggering evolution ....." Ray was one of the
professionals who helped shape the country's entry into this
epoch. He continued to live by Duty, Honor, Country.
Ray, Joan and their children moved to Spokane,
Washington, an area they all loved, after he retired. Not many
months later however he began to feel ill. In spite of treatment,
he died of cancer on 28 June 1987. He is survived by his wife
and children; his mother, Mrs. Raymond E. Orth, Sr.; and his
brother, Dr. Rodney Orth and Rod's family, of San Diego. To all
who knew him he leaves the memory of a rare, sparkling spirit
who brightened the lives of all of us.
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