Sergeant Raymond Thomas Heckel served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 151st Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division. In the Philippines, he led pack supply trains through steep mountain trails and deep mud to carry critical supplies to front-line riflemen. His memorial honors the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, and MASH research connects his story to his older brother John “Jack” Francis Heckel, who was lost aboard USS Juneau in 1942.