PFC Raymond Edward Shelton was born Raymond Ernest Shelton on 9 Jul 1913 in Philpott, Virginia. He was the 2nd of 5 children born to Thomas and Minnie (Turner) Shelton. His mother was attended by a local midwife, Elizabeth Gusley. Thomas worked as farm labor before buying his own farm in the Reed Creek area of Henry County, Virginia. However, the depression was hard on many people and by 1930 the family was farming on rented land the Horse Pasture district near Bassett, Virginia. Raymond went to work for Bassett Chair Company in the local factory and married Fannie Agnes Pegram about 1939. He supported his wife and himself on a reported 1939 income of $600. The couple would have a daughter, the 1st of 3 children, in May 1940 and Raymond registered for the draft in October 1940. A son would follow in November 1941 and the 2nd son in October 1943.
Raymond was drafted in April 1944 and initially sent to Fort Meade, Maryland. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Shelton was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry on 25 Oct 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He was a non-battle casualty, that is, he was injured somehow not connected to combat and sent to hospital. He did not return to the unit until 27 Dec 1944. Promoted to PFC on 7 Jan 1945, he continued to fight with the unit until he was killed in action in the vicinity of Lützerath, Germany on 25 Feb 1945.
PFC Shelton was repatriated and buried in the Mount Hermon Church of the Brethern Cemetery in Bassett, Virginia.
Raymond is survived today by several grand and great-grand children.
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