Major General John C. Raaen Jr. ’43JAN was honored with one of the nation’s highest civilian awards—the Congressional Gold Medal—in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War II and beyond. The award was formally bestowed on September 17 as part of a special ceremony celebrating his memorable contributions to the United States.
At 103 years old, Raaen is the second-oldest living West Point graduate and remains a living link to some of the most pivotal moments in 20th-century history. He is the last surviving U.S. Army Ranger officer who stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and among the oldest Normandy veterans still with us.
Born in April 1922 at Fort Benning, Georgia, into a military family, Raaen was raised among Army posts and steeped in service from an early age. He graduated early in January 1943 due to the wartime acceleration of his class. After commissioning, he volunteered to join the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion. Following rigorous amphibious and commando training in Florida, England, and Scotland, Raaen led Headquarters Company during the landings at Omaha Beach. In the face of intense German fire, rugged terrain, and chaos, his unit landed at Les Moulins and pressed inland to fulfill their objectives.
For his bravery and leadership in Normandy, Raaen earned the Silver Star. He then continued into the Brittany campaign, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars for valor. Wounded in the Saar Valley campaign late in 1944, he was evacuated but returned to further service after recuperation.
Raaen’s military service did not end with World War II. He went on to serve in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, taking on increasingly senior roles, primarily in ordnance and logistics. He eventually rose to the rank of Major General, served in the Pentagon, and was notably involved in shaping policy and organizational systems, such as the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition (SMCA), a framework still in use today.
Despite decades in uniform, Raaen also made time for academic achievement, earning a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Johns Hopkins University.
During a local WESH 2 news interview, when asked the secret to his longevity, Raaen offered a wry smile: “Well, I drank the necessary number of martinis or scotch, and I ate good food.” Asked whether he was afraid as he stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day, he replied, “No. No, we were well trained; we knew what to expect.”
MG John C. Raaen Jr. now joins a pantheon of American icons—from George Washington and Rosa Parks to Neil Armstrong and Thomas Edison—who have received the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal acknowledges not only Raaen’s courage and leadership but also the shared sacrifice of the Rangers and all who fought in the decisive battles of World War II.
See Also:
The Longest Day for Long Gray Line
Remembering West Point Graduates on D-Day
Photo Courtesy of Marc Angle ’99, President, WPS of Central Florida
