Ray is the son of Roy and Jesse Dorman. He was born in extreme poverty and talked about hunting craw dads, possum and such for meals as a young child.

He began assisting the family financially at the age of 5 yeas old. He worked carrying 50lb sacks of cotton and was paid very little for the difficult work. He told me many tines that he would work in the fields 9 months out of the year to make the money needed for shoes to wear to school for the remaining school year.

Daddy was a self educated man. He was very intelligent in spite of lacking formal education.

He married his wife, Christine in 1939 at the age of 19. They lived in Texas until migrating with his folks and family in late 1940 to California where the family worked as migrant farmers finally settling at Foothill Farms in Corona, CA. The Farm no longer stands and the orchard that once were there are no more they have been replaced with modern homes and businesses. They lived in small homes there on the farm, my grandparents, aunts and uncles.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was enducted at Ft Ord AAB in Montery, CA. Upon completing his basic training he was transferred to Daugherty Air Field/AAF Base in Long Beach CA where he awaited his transfer to England for over-sea service.

He was stationed in England at Wendling, Norfolk, England the Wendling AAF Station 118 with the 576th/577th Unit of the 392nd Heavy Bombardment Group of the Eight Army Air Force.

Amongst all the bitter and sad memories of the war were many wonderful memories of several men who served with him. Some of whom he remained friends with after returning to the states, Joe and Joan Bellelo of Corona became my folks card partners for a time. I remember as a young child going to visit the two of them. Joe met Joan in England, married her and brought her stateside with him where they lived happily until their passings.

He left the Corona area about 1950 where he purchased a small Full Service Gas Station called Ray's Signal Service. He took great pride in the stories he shared about his life during that time period. He ran a succesful business as a Mechanic and Business owner until he was forced out by a Large oil company, a devastating blow.

At one time both he and my mother worked for Northrop Aircraft Corp in Long Beach, CA building parts for planes.

He lived in Harbor City, CA for a time but removed with his family to Baldwin Park, CA where they lived until 1974 moving to La Puente/West Covina, CA. During those years he worked as an Auto Mechanic for only a few employers as he was a loyal and devoted employee who NEVER missed a day of work unless dire circumstances warranted it.

Upon retiring he and Mom relocated to the High Desert of CA, Apple Valley where he enjoyed fishing, gardening, doing odd jobs for Mom and mostly spending time with his children, grandchildren and other family and friends.

Ray O Dorman