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by Julie Smith
Raymond Earl Ische (Ray) was born June 22, 1922, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ray’s father was Earl C. Ische, who was a sand and gravel salesman. His mother, Elsie (Stripling) was a homemaker. Ray and his parents enjoyed spending time with family in the Wisconsin outdoors, such as going to Earl’s uncle’s Clear View Lodge in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Click on image to enlarge.
From left: Ray Ische, Earl Ische, Ray and Elsie Ische, Ray (left) holding a dead crane with his cousin, Robert Washechek at Big St. Germain Lake. On the back of this photo: “The crane took the bait, the fish got away.”
Tragedy struck the family in the late 1930’s when Ray and Carol lost their parents and became orphans. Their mother, Elsie, died in 1937 from cancer at age 34, when Ray was 15, and Carol was four years old. Two years later, their father, Earl, also died of cancer. Ray was 17, and Carol was just six years old. Ray and Carol were left with nothing. Luckily, a large extended family was able to help.
After their father’s death, Ray and Carol first went to live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin near Ray’s high school. Ray wanted continue at the high school he had been attending. So, they moved into a home next door to Leonard Ische, Earl’s brother. The home was owned by Uncle Leonard’s sister-in-law. She had room for the two children in the attic of her house.
Carol adored her big brother Ray, but their grandparents, August and Ella Ische, did not want Carol living in an attic. The grandparents decided to let Ray stay so that he could finish his senior year at Rufus King High School, but took Carol to live with them in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. As Carol said, “Ella and August had raised eight children, so it was wonderful that they took on raising me.”
Ray and Carol stayed close with one another. Although they were no longer living under the same roof, Ray planned to raise his sister once he was able. In the meantime, he regularly contributed money to his grandparents for Carol’s care when he could.
Ray graduated from Rufus King High School in June of 1940. The high school yearbook notes that he was known as a “studious” student with the nickname of “Ish.” After graduation, he worked at the Milwaukee Chair Factory, 3022 W. Center St., Milwaukee and attended the University of Wisconsin Extension in Milwaukee. It was during this time that he enlisted (September 1, 1942). He intended to continue his university studies after the war.
While Ray was working and in college, he met Regina Schmidt. Reggie was in stenographer school with Ray’s maternal cousin, Elaine Wing in MIlwaukee, Wisconsin. They fell in love. Yet he knew he was going to war.
Above: Photos of Ray Ische and Regina (Reggie) Schmidt prior to their marriage.
Reggie and Ray decided not to wait until after the war to marry. On August 1, 1943, when Ray was stationed in San Marcos, Texas at Navigation School, he wrote to his grandparents that he and Reggie were going to get married. He said that they shouldn't worry about Carol. He would send money for her, and she would get the military death benefit if he would die.
Ray and Reggie were married August 28, 1943 at the First English Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. From August until November, Ray and Reggie were allowed regular visits. In November, a new rule was put into effect, and she was no longer allowed to visit him during the week. On December 11, 1943, Ray sent a postcard home that he would be leaving for combat shortly, and so Reggie would have to come home. Then, on December 15, Ray wrote that he and Reggie were temporarily in Tucson, Arizona and that she had to stay at a hotel because there was no housing available. In fact, she wasn’t able to find housing in Tucson until Christmas.
Reggie may have come home soon after the New Year, since Ray’s letter from February 17, 1944 does not mention her whereabouts. He does say he will soon be off to fight in the war.
There was frequent correspondence between Ray and his family while he was away. Many family members eagerly awaited Ray’s return home.
Ray went Missing in Action on September 27, 1944. The notice likely went to Reggie, and information was passed along to the family.
Afterwards, Carol never stopped talking about her big brother. She kept his memory alive with her children and named her first son Raymond. Even as Carol suffered with Alzheimer’s in her 80’s, she talked about Ray. She died in 2019, never knowing what happened to him. At Carol’s funeral, the family agreed that in heaven he’d be the first person she’d want to see.
Ray had seven Ische uncles, who, along with their wives and families loved him dearly. The Ische family all lived in Milwaukee and the surrounding area. The seven sons of August and Ella Ische were a loud, fun loving, social group, who gathered regularly at their parents’ home and at one of the two taverns owned by Ray’s uncles. Since Ray had been the oldest grandchild, he was close in age his younger uncles.
Ray’s uncles and their families so loved Ray that his Uncle Orville (Duffy) Ische also named his first- born son, Raymond. Ray and his uncle Howard (Howie) Ische were only 2 years apart in age and like brothers. Howard, also in the service, came home from WWII; he wondered why he came home, and Ray didn’t. The day Howard died in his 80’s, he got a tear in his eye and choked up when he and his children spoke of Ray.
Ray’s maternal side of the family consisted of five aunts, their spouses and families, whom Ray and Carol saw often. In fact, Ray’s WWII Draft Registration dated June 20, 1940, states that Ray was living at 4521 West Capitol Dr. Milwuakee, Wisconsin with his maternal cousin Elaine Wing and her husband, William. They were listed as the people who would always know his address.
Reggie and Ray were the favorite aunt and uncle of her nephew, Ron Wahl. Today, Ron’s family is actively involved in the ongoing for search Ray.
Ray enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 1, 1942 in Milwaukee. Ray's draft registration card stated that Ray was white, age 20, 6 feet tall, and 147 lbs with gray eyes and brown hair.
Enlistment Records: Page URL: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp
Ray
Text: “So gross_________________
“Little Ray was shaved (on his head) by one of those shrewd barbers at the SAACC. They called it a ‘Kelly Clip.’”
Throughout Ray’s letters during training, he mentions his hopes for a furlough back home. In his letter from October 23, 1943, he states that if he makes navigator, he should get a leave on November 15, but that never happened. The last time Ray saw his family was before he left for training in February of 1943.
Ray’s first mission took place near the end of April, 1944. In his letters, he mentions that his first mission was over Festung Europa. This term, “German Festung Europa,” referred to the part of Continental Europe occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.
The following Individual Casualty Questionnaire completed by 1st Lt. Cloys V. Johnson, radar navigator from Ray’s crew, describes the last mission for Ray Ische, which Lt. Johnson says was his 30th.
According to the 445th loading lists, 1st Lt. Raymond E. Ische was on his 29th mission as a member of the 703rd Bomb Squadron when they went to Kassel. Twenty-eight of his missions were flown with Captain Chilton’s crew. He also flew with Captain William M. Williams’ crew as a Pilotage Navigator in the deputy lead aircraft on June 4, 1944.
At this time we do not have any information regarding the 389th Bomb Group and any missions that the Chilton crew might have flown while undergoing PFF training.
Raymond E Ische received the Purple Heart, Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously.
