Edward John Rafferty
Staff Sergeant
C CO, 1ST BN, 16TH INFANTRY, 1ST INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Havertown, Pennsylvania
June 12, 1946 to October 13, 1967
EDWARD J RAFFERTY is on the Wall at Panel 27E, Line 103

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09 Dec 2003

Dear Eddie,

I'm writing this memorial to you even though we have never met. I don't want you to be forgotten. I married your nephew Frank Conroy Jr., your sister Eleanor's son, 27 years ago. Seventeen years after your death, we had a son Frank III. He was born on October 13, 1984, the Anniversary of your casualty. From the time our son was three, he's been wearing Army fatigues and playing Rambo. When he was seven, he saw a picture of you in his Aunt Karen's room, he told Karen and I you were his Guardian Angel. He said, "That's the angel that talks to me all of the time". Your Mom gave Karen that picture of you, kneeling in front of your barracks, because you were her Godfather.

This year, our son is attending Valley Forge Military College, he was selected for the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program. On November 17, 2003, Frank signed his contract with the U.S. Army for 8 years. We are so proud of him. I know you would be too. Eddie, I'm counting on you to protect and guard our son no matter where he is. I don't know if there are any coincidences in this world but this one is frightening for me as a mother. I hope and pray that the war in Iraq will end soon. I pray for peace in this world but I know we need brave men, like you and my son, to protect us. Thank you for serving this great country of ours. You are sorely missed but not forgotten.

Your Loving Niece,
Jeannie


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 13 October 1967 Charlie Company, 1/16th Infantry, lost five men:
  • 2LT George W. Locke, New Cumberland, WV
  • SSG Edward J. Rafferty, Havertown, PA
  • SP6 Angel Irizarry-Hernandez, Hato Rey, PR
  • SGT Stanley J. Kerr, Everett, WA
  • SP4 Robert C. Wing, Washington Court House, OH

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