Raymond Zink

Ray Zink was born in March, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents Joseph Zink and Anna Wiseman.

He grew up in a house at 13 Glenmore Avenue in Baltimore.

Ray’s Childhood Photos

In the Army 1945-1946

Inducted into the Army into active service on June 1, 1945. His civilian occupation was as a engine lathe operator. His military occupational specialty was Field Lineman. Decorations and Citations included Army Occupation medal (Germany) World War II Victory Ribbon. He departed from the US on November 22, 1945 and arrived in France November 30, 1945. His return trip was from October 3, 1946 to October 11, 1946.

Military History as written by Hilda:

Name:  Ray Zink        Rank:  Technician 4^th Grade – Sergeant

Branch of military:  U.S. Army – Field Artillery

Served from:  June 1945 to Nov 1946 in World War II 

U.S. Occupied Germany – Retrained as Military Police – Constabulary Squad

Awards, medals, or honors:  EUROPEAN THEATRE, OCCUPATION GERMANY – Good Conduct

I was in the last week of training at Fort Brag, N.C. when the United States dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  Japan surrendered shortly after that.

I was sent for Occupation of Germany – to replace combat servicemen so they could return to U.S. soil.

After ten days of sailing, our ship docked at La Harve, France.  We traveled by train to Germany.  We lived in barracks with no heat or water – only cots to sleep on.  Our food and water was rationed.  The food was always served cold.  We bathed and shaved with our helmet serving as the washbowl.  It was winter and the weather was very cold with the wind coming off the North Sea.

Our squad guarded over 800 prisoners – they were Austrian men who were held prisoners by the Germans.  We guarded them as they were “herded” into train boxcars for their return to Austria.  We served them food rations and water.  There were no beds, chairs, toilet facilities, or comforts of any kind in the cars.  The train would stop near an open field – which was the “bathroom” relief stop.  We searched private homes for guns and enemy soldiers.  Our troop was responsible for keeping peace in the towns and cities.

The German people were glad the war had ended – they were nice to us even though we had to search their homes.

After one year in Germany and six months in the United States, I received an honorable discharge at Fort Meade.

Newsletters from when Ray was aboard the USAT WP Richardson

Volume 4, No. 7 was a special edition of the newsletter. It gave the history of the WP Richardson. Here’s an excerpt:

“It doesn’t make much difference what ship you came overseas on, the chances are very much that it wasn’t nearly as new a vessel as the USAT WP Richardson. When you left home, your friends were driving the most modern cars available if they owned 1941 models. The ship you are on now wasn’t even completely planned when these automobiles were made.

The USAT WP Richardson was commissioned into active service with the US Fleet on 2 November 1944, at Bayonno Navy Yard, New Jersey. The RIchardson was not originally an Army ship, but was operated by the US Navy.

She made a shake-down cruise — short, because those were still dangerous days on the water — then began a busy period of service. The ship started her service with a trip from Boston on 10 December 1944 to the ETO with a load of troops.”

Find photos of the ship and its’ history on the NavSource Naval History website.

Volume IV No. 1, page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4

Volume IV No. 4, page 1, page 2

Volume IV, No. 7 page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5, page 6, page 7, page 8

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The 1960’s

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