Raymond A. Laquerre

Mr Don Ullricn,
Thank you for your condolences,
And thank you for the clarifiication, about the Midway (CVB 41), being an aircraft carrier, and for sharing your information on Midway History.

After some research weI have found out a few more “Midway facts”:
Ray was on the ship until his Honarable discharge on Feb 10, 1946.
As you may know, the ship was commissioned 10 Sept 1945, Ray was on the Midway for its December 1945 Shakedown cruise, and has a Plank Owner document from that time, signed by Captain J.F. Bolger.
We also have found Vol1 No.1 and Vol 1, No 2, of the “Midway News”, describing some of the activities of Midway’s New York Visit for Navy Day (October 1945) , and the Shakedown cruise in December 1945 (respectively).
Respectifully,
Phil Ouellette, (one of Ray’s ‘adopted’ sons).

Dear Mrs. Laquerre,

First, my condolences on the passing of Raymond.

We were not acquainted. I send this only for the record and clarification after reading the obituary in the Telegraph. I am 84, reside in Nashua and also served on the USS Midway during the Korean war, 1954-1955, possibly at the same time as Raymond although I did not know him, the Midway having a crew of about 3,000. The Midway was not a battleship; it was an aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1945 just after the surrender of Japan. It was the first aircraft carrier to have a steel flight desk, previous carriers having wooden flight decks. It initially served in the Atlantic Fleet, being transferred to the Pacific fleet in 1954.Too large to fit through the Panama Canal, we sailed down the South Atlantic and around the Cape of Good Hope, visiting Capetown, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Hong Kong, Manila and Olongapo (Philippines), Sasebo and Yokusuka, Japan. In March our aircraft flew cover while the Marines evacuated 35,000 Nationalist Chinese troops and civilians from the Tachen Islands, just off the mainland which was controlled by the Communists, to safety in Taiwan. I left the ship in April, 1955 to reutrn to civilian life. Later that year the Midway was completely modernized and returned to the Pacific, serving during Viet Nam and later in the Arabian Sea during Desert Storm. The Midway was decommissioned in 1992, mothballed for 12 years and is now a floating museum in San Diego.
The Midway was a proud and awesome ship. It and its men served our country well for more than 50 years. I thought you might be interested in some of its history.
Peace and God bless you and your family.
Sincerely, Don Ullricn
(adonu@yahoo.com)

Mr Don Ullricn,
Thank you for your condolences,
And thank you for the clarifiication, about the Midway (CVB 41), being an aircraft carrier, and for sharing your information on Midway History.

After some research weI have found out a few more “Midway facts”:
Ray was on the ship until his Honarable discharge on Feb 10, 1946.
As you may know, the ship was commissioned 10 Sept 1945, Ray was on the Midway for its December 1945 Shakedown cruise, and has a Plank Owner document from that time, signed by Captain J.F. Bolger.
We also have found Vol1 No.1 and Vol 1, No 2, of the “Midway News”, describing some of the activities of Midway’s New York Visit for Navy Day (October 1945) , and the Shakedown cruise in December 1945 (respectively).
Respectifully,
Phil Ouellette, (one of Ray’s ‘adopted’ sons).

Thank you, Mr. Laquerre, for your service to this country and for your service to the City of Nashua and Rivier College. You served us all so well.

We thank your family too for standing by you and supporting your choice to serve.

God bless all of Mr. Laquerre’s family.

My sincere sympathy to the family. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Sincerely,

Mary DeCourcy and family

Dear Sugar and Family

Our deepest sympathy for the loss of Ray. He was such a kind man and we will certainly remember all the family times we had with him. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone.

Mrs. Laquerre, please accept my condolences and those of the Board of Fire Commissioners on the loss of your husband Ray. I had the privilege of meeting Ray at several meetings of the Retire Firefighters Association. I know that Ray will be missed.

We are thankful for Rays 28 years of service and commitment to the citizens of Nashua and look forward to again remembering his service at the Annual Firefighters Memorial in October. In addition, we are thankful for his military service in the US Navy protecting our way of life.

I regret that I am not capable of delivery my condolences personally but please know that my thoughts are with you and your family in spirit.

Paul Garant
Chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners

Ray,
Rememberihg a true Firefighter,quiet while getting the job done.
Pease!
Richard N

Remember working with Ray at the Amherst St station. May God bless and keep him.

Uncle Ray (aka, ‘Shrimp’) will be missed dearly. I remember his smile and his laugh. He is now in Heaven with the angels.

God Bless!

Robin (Lenz) Martin and Paul Martin