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"Encourace us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life.”</div>
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These words from the Cadet Prayer embrace the code by which <em>Ray Enners</em> lived and died. Certainly on 18 September 1968, half a world away in the jungles of Vietnam, Ray "lived above the common level of life” when he laid down his life to save a wounded comrade. His sacrifice was in every way consistent with his life and concern for his fellowman.</div>
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Ray was born 5 November 1945 in Rockville Center, New York. It was at Half Hollow Hills High School that he initially displayed those attributes that were to mark his later life. He achieved honors as Class President, Student Council Member, National Honor Society member and recipient of the Long Island Press Scholar Athlete Award. Ray was also active in sports; it was as a member of various athletic teams that Ray first displayed his determination and love for his fellowman. Ray's personal standards were so high that he excelled in all the sports he tried. By the close of his senior year Ray had been selected as captain of the football and lacrosse teams, was All-Suffolk County Athlete in both sports and earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball and lacrosse.</div>
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Those who knew Ray at all during this period will never forget him. He exemplified the traits of courtesy, responsibility and determination at their finest. To his coach, friends, school principal, teachers, as well as athletic opponents, he is the memory of a man who excelled not only as scholar and athlete, but also as a human being. These people, years removed from Ray’s high school days, have honored his memory by establishing the First Lieutenant Raymond J. Enners Memorial Award for the Outstanding Senior Boy, athlete and scholar, at Half Hollow Hills High School; and the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association (Special Award) for the Outstanding Senior Lacrosse player in Suffolk County.</div>
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Ray’s life began a new phase when he entered West Point in the summer of 1963. Leaving behind friends and family, and fresh from an honored and rewarding high school experience, Ray might have been uneasy about the step into this new military life. Yet with the same determination and spirit that marked his high school days, Ray tackled West Point.</div>
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One of the most vivid memories of Ray that comes to mind occurred that first hot July day when he bid his parents farewell and entered North Area, lacrosse stick in hand, head held high, only to be indignantly received by a member of the beast detail. He was ready, proud to be one of those facing this new challenge.</div>
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His experience at West Point had a profound influence on Ray, as well as those who knew him. It was not always an easy period but was constantly an enjoyable one. At times the academic road was particularly rough for him. Yet through extraordinary personal effort he managed to overcome this hurdle where others would have stumbled. His love for sports, especially lacrosse, consumed most of his time away from study. Again, it is through athletic experiences that Ray's nature may best be described. Still vivid over a span of years are the many wonderful memories of “Iggy”; his quiet joy at victory when his face lit up and he grasped his teammates; his utter disbelief at defeat, as he sat, still in uniform, with tears welling in his eyes; his help and advice to his teammates; the spirit he displayed as a competitor on the field (he won the team award as the "hardest driver” on the squad); his love of the game and his respect for all. Never to be forgotten also, was Ray’s deep faith in God; as a church acolyte in his home town church and at West Point he manifested this faith and trust. Ray's devotion was not known to many. He wasn’t obtrusive. It was, however, this faith that sustained him through many ordeals. In every way Iggy was an unforgettable man.</div>
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How can he be described during those four years at West Point? His easy manner, twinkling wit, and never-give-up spirit combined and matured there. As a Cadet Captain, Company Commander, and All America lacrosse player, Ray demonstrated that he had adjusted well to the military atmosphere at West Point. Those who knew him then loved and respected him. There were never unkind words for Ray Enners.</div>
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A good illustration of the respect that he gained is shown in an incident that occurred at the 1967 Army-Navy Lacrosse Game. (Ray was hospitalized the night before the game.) Although unable to play, he insisted on being in uniform and on the bench. Those who were in the locker room at halftime will never forget the vow made by an underdog Army team to win that game so that Iggy could step on the field and eam a star for beating NAVY. Ray’s example, then, as always, was above the common level. He was an inspiration to us all.</div>
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Again to demonstrate the esteem with which he was held, his family, friends, and his coach, Jim Adams (who had a profound influence on Ray), have honored his memory by establishing the Raymond J. Enners Memorial Award, which is presented to the most outstanding lacrosse player in the nation. This “Heisman Trophy of Lacrosse’’ serves as a most fitting award to honor Ray’s name and those others who deserve to be called “the best.”</div>
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After graduation, and the North-South All Star Came (Ray still could not play due to his illness, so he served the team as team manager), Ray entered the active Army as an Infantry Officer. By July of 1968, after Ranger School and a short but intensely rewarding tour at Fort Carson, Ray followed his destiny to Vietnam. During the three months preceding his death he distinguished himself in combat, again earning the respect and admiration of his subordinates, contemporaries and his superiors. On 18 September, Ray joined his God while saving another soldier’s life. This final sacrifice earned him his country’s second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.</div>
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On 7 June 1969, in the Office of the Superintendent, United States Military Academy, West Point, the award was presented to Ray’s parents, his sister Sandy, and his brother Richard (Class of ’71). The citation accompanying the medal reads in part: “Helplessly trapped by raking fire from the enemy gunners, the badly bleeding squad leader called for help, but the deadly hostile fire kept anyone from reaching him. Lieutenant Enners, hearing his cries, began moving forward to rescue him.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>He crawled forward through the rice paddies and leaped across the intervening dikes, dodging through continuous bursts of enemy fire until he reached his forward squad leader. He and the squad leader then jumped over the dike and ran forward...but they were forced to turn back when the North Vietnamese began throwing grenades. Braving the rounds scorching the air around them, they raced again to the injured man's position and took cover behind the dike. Lieutenant Enners picked up the injured man and again disregarded the risk to his own life to carry him back across the battlefield to the care of medical aidmen...he later rejoined his platoon maneuvering them to within fifteen meters of the enemy before he was fatally wounded by hostile machine gun fire."</div>
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Other tributes, besides those already mentioned, have been received by Iggy's family. One letter that was especially meaningful to Ray’s parents was from the Air Force Academy. During his tour at Fort Carson Ray had the pleasure of coaching the Air Force Academy Plebes in lacrosse. Cadet Terry L. Woods expressed the sentiment with which Ray was held by those young men, writing, “Unselfishly he gave time to teach me and my classmates the finer points of lacrosse. He could have done many other things on those afternoons, but he didn’t. He saw some people who needed some help, so Lieutenant Enners gave us some assistance...I have never seen such standards as Lieutenant Enners displayed. Our world needs so many more Lieutenant Enners.”</div>
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Ray never saw himself as a hero. It was alien to his personality to consider himself different from others. Yet he was different. He embodied qualities of unselfishness, kindness, appreciation of others.</div>
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Ray desired only to continue serving God, marry, and live for his family. Yet his life had another path to follow. Ray loved his country and was willing to sacrifice for its ideals. He would have, and did, do anything for his fellowman; he was definitely a hero.</div>
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A visitor to the West Point Cemetery can sense the fulfillment of life and will find there the peace which Ray sought and died for. Both love and peace compose the tranquility of Ray's final resting place high above the Hudson. There the vigor and youth of countless young men in gray will provide a living memorial to those ideals by which he so earnestly sought to live. The lacrosse men of tomorrow will pass by him with some of that dogged determination to excel that Iggy so amply demonstrated. His death was a tragic, unbelievable loss to his family and many friends; there is a void never to be filled, but always bridged by fond, wonderful memories of an outstanding soldier, an uncommon man, and a loving son and friend. We are all proud to have known him; these words do not fully describe the kind of man that is Ray Enners. He ’lived above the common level of life.”</div>
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“Every man is bound to do something before he dies. If it be that to which he is called, then death is but a sleep."</div>
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<em>—Chris Pettit</em></div>
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