Raymond W. Sylvester | 1919-2016
Headquarters Detachment
86th Chemical Mortar Battalion
1st U.S. Army
Raymond W. Sylvester, originally from Freeport, Maine, was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1939. He served on the staff of the 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion, a regiment that provided heavy mortar support to troops in contact with the enemy.
On June 29, 1944, at the age of 24, Raymond landed with his unit at Utah Beach to participate in the Battle of Normandy. The 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion was placed under the command of the 1st U.S. Army and specifically supported the 82nd Airborne Division and the 90th Infantry Division. He then participated in the fighting in the Ardennes during the harsh winter of 1944-1945. At the end of the war in Europe, on May 8, 1945, Raymond W. Sylvester was on German soil with his brothers in arms.
Upon his return to the United States, he married Barbara Olson, with whom he had four children. An employee of New England Telephone for thirty-seven years before retiring in 1982, Raymond traveled to France several times for the commemorations of the Battle of Normandy.
He passed away on November 1, 2016.
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