US Army PFC Raymond Joseph Settle was born in Flomaton, Alabama on June 13, 1929, the oldest of five born to Forrest Leroy Settle Sr. (1898-1972) and Ruthie Lee Wright (1908-1987). His father was from Pine Grove, KY but had lived in Jay for 63 years prior to his death. Having relocated to Jay in 1909, he answered his nation's call to arms and enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 106th Engineer Train of the 31st Infantry Division. As the war in Europe progressed, he and his regiment boarded the SS Balmoral Castle in Hoboken, NJ and set sail for Scotland on September 16, 1918. Before sailing he listed his next of kin as his mother Mrs. Anna Settle in Quintette, Florida. Forrest spent a brief period in rest camps, before moving on in October to Brest through the French towns of Cherbourg and Le Havre. Since the war ended on November 11, 1918, with the signing of the armistice, the division avoided any combat duty except for isolated units that were sent to undermanned regiments.
Back home in 1940, Forrest was working for B. G. DeVan Motor Company in Mobile, ALA but at the time of Raymond's death, he was working as a mechanic at the Warrington Branch of Muldon Motor Company. In the meantime, Ray's teenage years were built around his family and his community. At Jay High School he became a star tackle for the football team but decided to leave school after his sophomore year. His dream was to become an auto mechanic just like his father and spent many an hour tinkering on engines with this dad and uncle. The old folks around Jay all stated that he was "right handy with garage tools." As far as the ladies were concerned his family said he did not have a "steady" girlfriend but enjoyed a good time in mixed company in his quiet, reserve way.
Ray decided to enlist in the US Army, perhaps because he grew up on the stories of his father in the Great War. Regardless, he enlisted on March 8, 1948, and was sent to Ft. Jackson, SC for basic training. Upon completion, he was sent to Seattle, Washington and on to Japan to become a member of the occupational forces following WWII. He was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 34th Infantry Regiment attached to the 24th Infantry Division. Then came the surprise invasion of the North Korean army into South Korea in the early morning hours of June 25, 1950. His regiment was one of the first to arrive on July 3 as the American and South Korean armies were being overwhelmed on the battlefield. His regiment's only purpose was strictly to delay the North Korean advance until more help could arrive. However, they were forced to fight alone and without artillery, heavy mortar or even air support. As soon as they took a stand they were outflanked and overrun by the enemy.
By July 13th, the 34th and 19th Infantry regiments, were defending a 34-mile-line on the Kum River. Preparing to attack the 34th at Kongju was 5,000 to 6,000 enemy troops backed by twenty tanks. An equivalent number was also moving to attack the 19th regiment, but the two regiments together only equaled less than 2,000 soldiers. Facing annihilation, they were forced to fall back and regroup. On July 19, the 34th regiment had fallen back again and was positioned along the Kapchon River west of Taejon, astride the Kongju Road. Again, they fell back to Taejon. In the ensuing battle of Taejon, the 34th regiment was routed and incurred horrendous casualties. The regiment would lose 530 men out of its total strength of 1,549 along with four regimental commanders and two operations officers in just over two weeks. One of those lost was Raymond Joseph Settle from the small farming community of Jay, Florida. who had been shot and killed only 37 days after his arrival in Korea.
His family was notified of his fate as they waited until May 1952 to finally get their boy home. As soon as his remains arrived he was buried in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Jay.
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