Ray Keith Edwards, Corporal

From Wikipedia Sept 2015:

Ray K. Edwards (1923–1942) was a United States Marine Corps corporal who received a posthumous Silver Star for his actions in the Guadalcanal campaign during World War II.

Biography Ray Keith Edwards was born on 11 November 1923 at Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 16 June 1941, then was transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps at his own request and was rated corporal on 23 February 1942.

Edwards lost his life during World War II while receiving an important radio message during a Japanese aerial bombardment on Guadalcanal on 12 September 1942.

Awards For his action on Guadalcanal on 12 September 1942, Edwards received the Silver Star posthumously. (The Silver Star, officially the Silver Star Medal, is the third-highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. Any uniformed service member may receive the medal, which is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.)

Namesakes The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Ray K. Edwards (DE-237) was named for Corporal Edwards. During construction, she was converted into the high-speed transport USS Ray K. Edwards (APD-96), and was in commission as such from 1945 to 1946.

Notes This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.