Posted by XXXXXXXXXXXXXX on April 22, 2008:

Raymond Urban Bloom NO. 16753 CLASS OF 1948 KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 26, 1950, IN KOREA AGED 24 YEARS OUR son, Raymond U. Bloom, was born October 3, 1925 at Spokane, Washington, where he spent a healthy and normal babyhood. At the age of five, he commenced the first grade at the Edison School in Spokane, later transferring to the Audubon School of that city. In 1935 we moved to Missoula, Montana, where Raymond entered the Central Grade School. Even at this time, though he was small of stature and very young, his love for competition and sports helped him become a member of the Kiwanis Softball and basketball teams. We returned to Spokane in 1938, where Raymond re-entered the Audubon grade school. Again his energetic nature and admiration for all athletics helped him to become a regular member of the school's soccer, football, basketball and baseball teams. His coach often remarked that he had never known anyone to take his training and playing so seriously nor had he known anyone who was so admired for his loyalty, clean playing and living. In addition to taking part in all sports, he made good grades, was elected to school offices and took part in school programs and plays. While in Audubon, he played the part of Huckleberry Finn in Tom Saywer with such earnestness and sincerity that many critics felt the part could not be improved upon. His Junior High School years from 1939 to 1940 were spent at Havermale, where again he participated in all sports, student body offices and school plays, and was associate editor of the Havermale Journal, which took highest honors in the nation for Junior High Schools. In 1940 Raymond entered North Central High School in Spokane, where he gathered many honors in basketball and track. His 31 points per single game held the record of the city for many years, as well as his 123 points for a ten-game season. In addition to holding student body offices, participating in school plays, serving on the Tarnrack Business staff — the school annual — he received the Special Honor Award when he was graduated in the Spring of 1943. On October 11, 1941 Ray became an Eagle Scout, having earned 34 Merit Badges—among them being the drama merit badge awarded for his original one act play, "Tenderfoot". This was the first merit award of its kind ever presented in Spokane. After becoming an Eagle Scout, Ray earned the Eagle Bronze Palm and the Gold Eagle Bronze Palm awards. Immediately upon graduation, he entered Gonzaga University, which he attended until called as an Air Corps cadet on December 26, 1943. While stationed at Gardner Field, California, in June 1944, he was notified of his appointment to West Point. While attending West Point, he was playercoach of his company D-2 intramural lacrosse team. Some time later, while stationed at Camp Haugen, Japan, he was again a player-coach. This time he was with the 32nd Infantry Regiment basketball team, known as the "Big Green". His team won the 7th Division Championship. His greatest outdoor recreations, and those dearest to his heart, were hunting and fishing. Throughout the states of Washington, Montana and Idaho, he covered field and stream in quest of these sports. Ray was deeply religious and was a member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Spokane. He felt a compulsion toward God that was ever apparent in his daily activities. While his friends and classmates have written many tributes in his behalf, we like to think of the honor paid him by a former school teacher and friend who said, "Raymond was the finest, cleanest, most honest and God-like boy I have ever known. He was a friend to all and, in return, loved by all. His courageousness, spirit of fair play and decency should live in the heart of every American boy" — His Parents

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