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“Always strive for self-improvement and more knowledge. Seek responsibility and seek command.”</p>
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With these words Ray Celeste bade farewell to the men of the 54th Officer Candidate Company at Fort Benning, Georgia, and proceeded to his final assignment in the hostile jungles of Vietnam. Far from being the formalized cliches often spoken on such occasions, Ray’s words to his men reflected his personal credo. Throughout his life, Ray sought knowledge, responsibility, and command.</p>
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Ray was born in Manhattan on 26 September 1931, and grew up in the New York City area. In high school he attacked his studies with characteristic, dogged determination and became a member of Arista, the New York City Honor Society. His quest for responsibility and command led rather naturally to the Army, and in 1951, he joined the highly regarded 107th Infantry Division of the New York National Guard. It proved to be a doubly rewarding decision—Ray not only learned the traditions and duty concept of the military, he also earned the opportunity to compete for a reserve component appointment to West Point. He won the appointment and the privilege of attending the New York National Guard West Point Preparatory School. On 1 July 1952, Ray entered West Point, a proud member of the Class of 1956.</p>
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During his four years as a cadet, Ray found ample opportunity for self-improvement and the gaining of knowledge—sometimes more than he seemed to need. He was, for example, a member of that elite group that wore low overshoes to electricity lab classes, regardless of the weather. "Better to be ‘quilled’ than electrocuted,” he contended. To his casual acquaintances Ray gave the impression of being quiet and introspective, but to those who knew him well he was a dynamic person with a rich sense of humor. Whether duelling with the academic departments or clashing with classmates on the intramural athletic fields, Ray’s dogged determination shone through; this same strong motivation led to the choices he made for his career after graduation: Infantry, Airborne, Ranger.</p>
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After successfully completing all three of these rugged courses, Ray settled down to his apprenticeship as a junior officer in the 82d Airborne Division. In June of 1958, Ray returned briefly to West Point to conclude a three-year courtship by marrying his lovely wife, Alice. Later in the same year, Ray saw an opportunity for still further improvement and made application for flying instruction. He entered the program at San Marcus, Texas, but frequent attacks of air sickness stymied this project, and soon thereafter Ray and Alice were on their way to Europe.</p>
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Ray’s tour in Germany was personally and professionally rewarding. His two fine sons, Raymond and Robert, were bom during this tour, and, as executive officer of Company A, 2d Battle Group, 28th Infantry, Ray was cited for the “particularly noteworthy ... professional knowledge” he displayed during the Army training tests in the fall of 1959. But he was restless, so he volunteered for duty with the 10th Special Forces Group (Abn) and was given command of a detachment. Among his duties, Ray supervised the training connected with a locally established airborne school, a job well suited to Ray’s drive and temperament. Once, while participating with his men in a daily run, Ray saw one of the airborne candidates drop down alongside the road. Running up to the man, Ray wanted to know what was wrong. The trainee said he was too tired to go on. His dark eyes flashing, Ray ordered, “Get up! If you have enough breath to complain with, you can go another mile.” It was typical of the Celeste philosophy—give all you have and then a little more.</p>
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Ray returned to the United States in 1963 to attend the Infantry Officer Career Course. It was about this time that President Kennedy was stressing physical fitness, a challenging message to Ray Celeste. Pushing his books aside, he set out on the recommended 50-mile hike and completed it in ten hours and fifty-five minutes. For this effort, Ray was cited by the Infantry School for possessing one of “the highest traits of a military leader, that of setting the example.”</p>
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Ray remained at Fort Benning after completing the career course and was assigned as S3 of the 2d Battalion (Mech), 9th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. Ray distinguished himself as battalion S3 and later as commanding officer of Company A in Exercises LONG THRUST IX and FROSTY LION. For his “outstanding professional ability, leadership, and high degree of initiative,” Ray received the Army Commendation Medal.</p>
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In May of 1964, Ray was given command of the 54th Officer Candidate Company at Fort Benning. There, his will to win and his inspiring leadership were reflected in his company’s winning the coveted Commanding General’s Trophy in July of 1964. And yet, professional soldier that he was, Ray never forgot another attribute so necessary to a good commander—genuine concern for the needs of his men. Ray treasured these words written to him by the parents of one of the officer candidates:</p>
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We were surprised that you knew our son personally as you also seemed to know every young man under your command. We often get the idea that the Army is so large that the individual is lost in it. We were happy to learn that this is not true, especially in your command.</p>
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Despite his happy home life with Alice and his sons, and the satisfaction gained from shaping the character of future officers, Ray’s restless energy drove him to volunteer for duty in Vietnam. Arriving there in July 1965, he was assigned as senior advisor to the 2d Ranger Company, 37th Ranger Battalion, replacing a West Point classmate, Wally Crane. Both Ray and Wally described the 37th as being “one of the finest units in the Vietnamese Army.” Certainly during the months he was in combat, Ray experienced the fruition of his years of preparation. Nor did he ever doubt the soundness of his choice. In a letter to his son (then age six), Ray wrote:</p>
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I must be here because our country needs me here. All the things we have at home are wonderful: our pretty house, the freedom to go to any church we want to...The people in Vietnam want what we have worked for and have. However, other people over here want them to live in an entirely different way...I do hope that you understand that I am not here because I want to be here, but that there is work that must be done here.</p>
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Ray’s contribution to the “work that must be done" in Vietnam ended on 22 November 1965, when he was killed in action near the small village of Thach Tru. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart posthumously. The National Order, Fifth Class, and the Gallantry Cross with Palm were awarded to Ray by the Republic of Vietnam.</p>
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Ray Celeste died as he had lived—giving all he had. The 54th Officer Candidate Company’s graduating class of March 1965 dedicated their yearbook, 54 Gold Bar, to Ray, and perhaps no epitaph could be more appropriate than the words prefacing that dedication—Leadership Through Example.</p>