Charles R. Ray
Encyclopedia
Colonel Charles R. Ray was a US Army officer and Assistant Army Attache stationed in Paris. He was murdered by a terrorist affiliated with the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction on January 18, 1982 in Paris, France.
Lebanese terrorist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
shot and killed Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Ray outside his Paris apartment on 18 January 1982. A terrorist group called the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction claimed responsibility for the murder. Ray was killed at about 9 AM as he was walking to his car, which was parked about 100 yards from his apartment. The earliest reports simply indicated that a lone armed man shot Ray at close range in the head with a pistol.
, and on his first assignment as a military attaché
. He was married and had two children.
Prior to this assignment he resided in Northern Virginia. He was an active parishioner at St. Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church in Springfield, VA, and was responsible for coordinating the altar servers.
promoted Ray to Colonel posthumously on 3 June 1982. The President approved the promotion and met with Ray's wife during a visit to Paris in June 1982.http://www.dia.mil/history/patriots/biographies.html
U.S. President Ronald Reagan
issued the following statement on the death of Colonel Ray:
Lebanese terrorist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah is a Lebanese militant. He joined the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction when the group formed following the discontinuation of PFLP-SOC. He became leader of the organisation, and conducted its operations from France, where he used the aliases Salih al-Masri and...
shot and killed Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Ray outside his Paris apartment on 18 January 1982. A terrorist group called the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction claimed responsibility for the murder. Ray was killed at about 9 AM as he was walking to his car, which was parked about 100 yards from his apartment. The earliest reports simply indicated that a lone armed man shot Ray at close range in the head with a pistol.
Personal
Lieutenant Colonel Ray was born in New York City on September 14, 1938. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1960. Ray had been stationed in Paris as the Assistant Army Attaché for 18 months. He was a distinguished Military Intelligence officer, a decorated Vietnam veteranVietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
, and on his first assignment as a military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
. He was married and had two children.
Prior to this assignment he resided in Northern Virginia. He was an active parishioner at St. Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church in Springfield, VA, and was responsible for coordinating the altar servers.
Funeral
A state funeral was held for Colonel Ray at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, where he and his family had attended Mass since they first arrived in Paris in 1980. Following the Mass, Colonel Ray's body was flown back to the U.S. for a service at St. Bernadette's. Colonel Ray was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.Presidential Recognition
President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
promoted Ray to Colonel posthumously on 3 June 1982. The President approved the promotion and met with Ray's wife during a visit to Paris in June 1982.http://www.dia.mil/history/patriots/biographies.html
U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
issued the following statement on the death of Colonel Ray:
Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Ray, our Assistant Army Attache in Paris, was a distinguished career officer. He gave his life in the line of duty as surely as if he had fallen in battle. Our hearts go out to his family in their bereavement, and the wanton act of his murderers reinforces our determination to stamp out international terrorism and prevent similar tragedies in the future.