Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Raymond P. Livingston

As Told by Raymond's son Greg




My Dad,Raymond P. Livingston, was born in Brooklyn on Christmas Day, 1921. His parents had recently emigrated from Scotland. Dad graduated from Dumont High School, Dumont, New Jersey, in 1939. He enlisted in the U.S.Army shortly after Pearl Harbor and completed his boot camp at Fort Dix, New Jersey..

He was assigned to the 17th Signal Operations Battalion and landed on Omaha Beach, four days after D-Day. The beach and the surrounding area was still filled with minefields and snipers. He was promoted to First Lieutenant. I have his helmet, my proudest possession.

Dad returned home in 1946, graduated from Bucknell on the GI Bill, married Mom in 1949, and I came along in 1951. Dad and Mom settled in New CIty, NY, and Dad became an insurance agent. He led our Boy Scout troop and was active in our church.

Dad organized many reunions of his unit over the years, and was very proud of his service. He and I always got along, and we never had harsh words. I listened to every word he said and held him in the highest respect.

Dad passed on October 8, 2006, in the same room where their wedding photos were taken, with Mom, my sister, and my brothers at his side. I proudly sounded TAPS at his funeral. He always said that if a German bullet never got him, nothing would...but cancer did.

Greg Livingston is currently a volunteer bugler for Bugles Across America, shown here sounding Taps at the grave side of his father, Raymond Livingston.