When Raymond Brooks Austin was born on October 2, 1889, in Delaware, Ohio, his father, Cyrus, was 38 and his mother, Mary, was 30. He married Alice Ruth Doyen on April 16, 1913, in Bremerton, Washington. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Major in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Division. He was Killed in Action on October 7, 1918 and is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the citation is as follows:
Near Fleville, France
7 October 1918.
Major, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Division.
In order to obtain first-hand information and render the maximum support to the attacking Infantry, Major Austin, with absolute disregard for his own personal safety, made repeated trips to the Infantry front line during the attack of the 1st Division, October 7, 1918. He continued until mortally wounded, to send to the Artillery information of the utmost value concerning the enemy's disposition. Posthumously awarded.
Medal presented to father, Cyrus B. Austin