John P. Ray was born on August 15, 1922, in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of John Peter Ray. John served in Company F, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as a Sergeant during World War II.

On the night before D-Day, June 6, 1944, American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were deployed near Sainte-Mère-Église, France. The town had recently been attacked, and a fire ignited by a stray bomb had drawn German soldiers and villagers into the town square to form a bucket brigade. The area was well-lit due to the fire, and when two planes mistakenly dropped paratroopers directly over the village, they became exposed and easy targets for the Germans.

Among the paratroopers was Sgt Ray, whose parachute snagged on the church roof. He landed safely in the square below but was mortally wounded by an enemy soldier, who then took his two comrades. Despite his injuries, Ray fought back, killed the enemy, and saved his comrades. Sgt Ray died from his wounds received in battle on June 7, 1944. He is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. Sgt Ray was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of his bravery and sacrifices.