Tribute to Ray & Roy Booher
Twin Brothers of the 30th
Roy L. Booher, Company K, 119th.
Sgt. Ray G. Booher, Company B, 120th.
Ray Booher was wounded in Normandy, once at Mortain, again at Aachen after which he spent most of Oct/Nov 1944 in a hospital near Paris. He stayed a few weeks in the hospital, went AWOL hitching a ride back to Co. B, 120th. He was severely wounded at Thirimont in Jan. and sent home. Ray in mentioned on Page 89 in Capt. Murray S. Pulver's book, The Longest Year. However, his name was misspelled Booker rather than BOOHER. Ray is listed in Workhorse as receiving the Bronze Star with two Oakleaf Clusters but again his name is misspelled Boocher rather than Booher.
The following two stories are told by Gary Booher, nephew of Ray and Roy:
Ray and Roy Booher, twin sons of Jim and Ada Booher, born Sept. 21, 1920 in Burkesville Kentucky. The son of a farmer and sawmill owner, Roy grew up on a farm in south-central Kentucky. Ironically, our family is of German decent. Our ancestor, John Bucher, came from Germany ( near Bad Neuhiem ) to Lancaster PA.
They were from a large family, 13 children. Seven sons, my
father the youngest. Four of the
sons went to war, 2 to the Pacific in the Navy, and the twins Ray and Roy in
the 30th. They joined together, and were kept in the same Division but not
the same Regiment. I have made it my quest to find out as much about uncle
Roy as I could. I was born after the war, so I never knew him. As children
and grandchildren in that large family, we were never allowed to talk about
uncle Roy, nor mention the war to uncle Ray. I guess Roy's death was
devastating to the family, and Ray's wounds and mental anguish were things
the family just didn't want to think about. Uncle Ray just never talked
about the war, few people knew he was a decorated war vet. Ray lived to be
61 years old, had a family etc.. but suffered from those mental and physical
wounds the rest of his life. After he passed away, I came in possession his
Workhorse of The Western Front book. Since Roy was never married nor had
children, I decided to try to find out what I could about his service time.
It is a difficult search. From Graves Registration I have found some
information.
He was killed ( est.I assume estimated ) Sept. 12. His body picked up in the
Albert Canal area.
He is listed KIA which assume means he was killed rather wounded and taken
to a hospital. The document says GSW Right Side, again I assume gun shot
wound, right side. The histories indicated that at that time, the regiment
was crossing the Albert Canal, Meuse River, and heading into Holland. I have
no way of knowing if he was killed in the canal and river crossing, or later
in the day in Holland. Both histories indicate some fighting in the crossing
of the river. The Regimental history notes only 3 causalities that day. He
was buried in Fosse Temporary Cemetery, later moved to Henri- Chapelle.
Photos courtesy of Arno Lasoe of Roy's grave at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery...taken May, 2005.
New information added 10/18/08:
Here is some info on the death of SSGT Roy Booher:
As you maybe know we had an appointment with Mr. Brouwers. His father was an
eye witness of the death of Roy Booher. We visited the place were it all
happened. Sept. 12th 1944, the Americans went trew Noorbeek. Just outside of
the village they (K co. of the 119th was leading) met German resistance. Mr.
Brouwers sr. saw the GI's coming and wanted to warn them for the Germans.
Roy Booher (119th K. Co) with another GI, went forward to look upon the
"hill" (see website) to see were the Germans were. Roy Booher was on the
left hand side of the road. He had to go over an hedge. Then he got shot.
Mr. Brouwers does not know if a medic went to him. He only knows that the K
co. stopped and that after about an hour there came 3 planes which put gun
fire on the German position. K co. didn't move any further that day, Mr.
Brouwers told us that! But L co. of the 119th made a movement (threw
Bergenhuizen)on the left wing and took Terlinden (high ground) on the
12thRoy Booher's body was still in the field the next morning. A local
woman, who was a nurse, has seen/examined Roy Booher's dead body.
Last week Jeroen, Frank and Kevin went with a metal detector and searched
the site we believe the German position was. They found a lot of rubble, but
they also found a German K98 cartridge and a "full metal jacket" from a US
Garand rifle.
We will keep you of course informed,
Yours sincerely
Jean-Paul Wyers
Noorbeek
Photos were Roy Booher was killed:
(Left Click to Enlarge) 1956 photo Roy Booher was killed behind the
farm on the curve to the left.
Present day...behind
green fence.
Article from home falsely stating his death in Belgium. Don't believe
everything you read when researching!
TREMENDOUS LINK ON Roy Booher!!...CLICK
TO SEE