When Raymond Dales Wortley was born on December 13, 1891, in Miami, Kansas, his father, John, was 35 and his mother, Bonnie, was 21. He had two brothers and three sisters. At the age of 18 he joined Co. A, 7th Regiment, California National Guard. He was active in organizing the 7th Reg. Machine Gun Co. and received a commission as Lieutenant. On Aug. 1915, he resigned from the National Guard and joined the regular army as a Private. One year later, he received commission as 2nd Lieutenant and at the officer’s school at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas he was recommended as 1st Lieutenant. He was assigned acting Captain in Pershing’s Division and soon received a commission as Captain. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I in the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On October 6, 1918 in France, he was shot by machine gun through the lungs while leading the 2nd Battalion of the 26th Infantry just a few hours after the attack started. He was Killed in Action. Last word received from him is that he was serving as Major. He is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. He was cited for gallantry in action and for his brilliant leadership of his battalion. (Citation Order No. 5, A.E.F. California's Honor Roll). Overseas, his name is commemorated on the First Infantry Division monument in Saint-Juvin, France and is listed in Company H of his unit.

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