Army Badge
  • Name: Raymond "Ray" Henry Mischke
  • Location of Birth: Trout Lake Township, Itasca County, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: October 31, 1924
  • Date of Death: January 7, 2008
  • Parents: Albert Mischke & Ida (Schmidt) Mischke
  • High School and Class: 1942 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: SGT (Sergeant)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: March 1, 1943
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: December 20, 1945
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:
    Purple Heart

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: Raymond Henry Mischke
    Race: White
    Age: 18
    Birth Date: October 31, 1924
    Birth Place: Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Trout Lake, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: December 19, 1942
    Employer: Olaf Rydberg, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota
    Weight: -----
    Height: -----
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: Rueben [sic] Mischke, Bovey, Minnesota

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – November 12, 1943 – “Somewhere in Australia. Dear Mr. Barnes: I received your letter quite some time ago, but I never did get around to answer it. It’s hard to start writing when you can’t say what you really want to. I get the Bovey Press now, and the news is interesting, even if it isn’t new. Well, I imagine you’re looking ahead to winter, while we’re just beginning summer here. It’s awful warm here, and lots of mosquitos. This really isn’t such a bad place to live, although I wouldn’t trade any of it for Minnesota. I sure missed Labor Day this year and I hope I won’t have to miss any more. I was surprised to hear that so many of the boys were coming home on furloughs and the number of them that were commissioned 1st and 2nd lieutenants. Things aren’t so dull around here. We have shows at camp and there’s dances in town every night, and we have our own American Red Cross in town. We get passes every night and every week end off. Ted Demarais and I came across at the same time, but I don’t know where he’s at now. I haven’t met anyone here from Bovey or vicinity yet. Well, due to the shortages of words, I guess I’ll have to sign off. I think Bovey is doing a swell job in supporting the war effort and hope they keep it up. It makes us feel pretty good to know that we’ve got our own people backing us up. Will have to close now because chow whistle is blowing. Sincerely yours, Raymond H. Mischke.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 31, 1943 – “November 16, 1943. Hello Everyone: First of all, I want to thank the Bovey Service Men’s Club for the swell birthday card. I get the Bovey Press pretty regular now, and really enjoy it. We really appreciate getting the dope on what goes on up on the Range. So Bob Bay is in Australia, too! I’d like to have his address so I could write to him. Sorry to hear that you had such an awful day Labor Day. It rains quite often here, although the weather is nice and warm. I imagine you are beginning winter now. Glad to hear that so many of the boys are getting furlough, and I hope we all get a permanent one pretty quick. Really isn’t anything interesting to write about now, but I’ll try and write more later. Taps are blowing so I’ll have to close now. So until next time – adios! As ever, Ray Mischke.”

    Newspaper article: 1944 – "Ray Mischke writes from New Guinea to the same woman: “ . . . You know by now that I am in New Guinea. It is quite nice here and interesting, too, especially the natives. They danced for us last Sunday and the men gave them cigarettes. They really go for them. It is quite warm, but I was surprised to find no mosquitoes. What a blessing! Australia was overrun by ants and mosquitoes. There are plenty of cocoanuts here and maybe you think we don’t make use of them! * * * It is probably spring there now with muddy roads, but come what may, I’ll always be contented with old Minnesota. * * * That ‘man’ again! Ray”

    Newspaper article: 1944 – "Pfc. Raymond Mischke, who was wounded some time ago in the South Pacific, has sent home to his brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Mischke, the Purple Heart which he was awarded. He wrote that he is completely recovered."

    Newspaper article: 1944 – "Raymond Mischke, from somewhere in the South Pacific, wrote of being overseas 18 months, ten of them away from civilization, and that “there is no place to go in the jungles.” Pictures from home amazed his companions, as they did not think there was so much timber in this country as was shown in the photographs. Mischke remarked, “They don’t have heavy timber and lakes like we have.” He writes of not being able to tell one season from another, and that he would “enjoy a blizzard!”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – April 13, 1945 – “Philippine Islands, Feb. 15th. Dear Mrs. Martin: Sure was glad to hear from you again. Got your last letter a couple of days ago. As a matter of fact, you are the last one I’ve heard from for quite some time. I guess the rest are as slow as I am. The reason I didn’t write sooner is that we moved again, as you see. Far as I know, the Philippines are not such a bad place. At least there is civilization here anyway. More than I can say for some of the places I’ve been. The people are friendly. I have been to one small town so far. Fairly nice climate here too. No rain at all, but the rainy season hasn’t started yet so they say. Land is a lot like back home. Sure seems good to see corn fields again. Had corn on the cob for supper. Quite a treat for us. Also saw railroads and trains. So you don’t think much of our tailor? Well, we don’t either, but they just throw any size at us and we don’t argue! Your questions were right about the tents. We’ve lived in them ever since we’ve been overseas. Also have electric lights. Makes it nice to write letters and play cards. By the way, you asked me if I could sleep in a real bed for a change. Well, I certainly could. Might be a little restless the first night. Certainly could get used to it in a hurry though! You asked about me wearing colored glasses in those pictures. Well, I wore them mostly because the sun was always so bright on the white coral. It might not look like I changed much to you, but I certainly feel like I’m ten years older! I guess everyone does. Guess I won’t have much taste for hunting when I get back like you said. Time changes everything though. Was surprised to hear that the dams broke, but I guess it could be expected. They tell me I’m an uncle again. I’ve already stopped counting. Have to close. Say hello to all. Always glad to hear from you. Ray Mischke.”

    Newspaper article: May 1945 – “Reuben Mischkes have had a letter from their brother Raymond telling them he had been a patient in an Army hospital in the Philippines for nine days with malaria. He said he had gone down in weight from around 184 pounds to 130 pounds and consequently the fellows couldn’t kid him about being a heavyweight any more.”


  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Ray Mischke married Joyce Rassmussen West in 1950 in Minnesota. He worked for U.S. Steel as a millwright, retiring after 36 years. He was a member of the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Bovey, Minnesota, and the Grand Rapids VFW.

    Ray died in the Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 142). He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce; children, Cindy Lou (Richard) Shields, Dean Raymond Mischke, and Sandra Lee (Tony) Lasater; a sister, Selma Sundstrom; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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