Ray “Cotton” Radcliff lost in WW2

Memorial Day seems an apt day to write about my Grandma Carroll’s brother Cotton who was killed during WW2. Raymond Radcilff was born on the 13th of December 1920 in Mackinaw, Illinois. The fourth of Elmer and Bessie Radcliff’s 12 children, he had bright white/blond hair and was thus dubbed “Cotton” for the rest of his days.

Three young men in long coats smiling — Ray Barney and Pete Radcliff Xmas gathering 1941

class photo, white elementary school aged children dressed in modest clothes of the 1930s farming community — Spring Bay Grade and High School 1935

14 when his mother died, Cotton found work as a farm laborer in Tazewell county starting in 1935 as just a teenager and listed experience with foundry work on his enlistment papers.

young caucasian soldier in formal army uniform standing in front of a large shrub — Cotton

young caucasian couple, man in dress army uniform, girl in blue dress sitting on the grass, holding hands — Ray left behind the girl he intended to marry

young man dressed in a double breasted suit and white shirt stands in front of a tree — Ray in 1941

Cotton enlisted on 21 Sep 1942 in Peoria, Illinois. He was able to return home on leave as evidenced by several photos taken with family. He was killed in the line of duty during a training accident in Eglin Field Florida on 2 March 1944. He was admitted to the army hospital there in Okaloosa Florida with a tibia fracture, but died from his injuries. The military records don’t elaborate on the cause, but I recall Grandma Carroll saying it was a plane crash.

Grave covered with greenery and flowers — Cotton’s grave at Stout’s Grove March 1944

Man lies in casket with a flower wreath made in the shape of the US flag set in front — Ray’s visitation

Names on a War Memorial include Raymond Hendricks

Tombstone of PVC Raymond C Radcliff US Army — Cotton’s grave is at Stout’s Grove cemetery near Danvers, Illinois next to his mother, Bessie.