- June 29, 2024
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Ray Rice and daughters Lana Romeo and Cheryl Clark with members of the Marine Corps League 1st Sgt. Burdett W. Loucks, Jr. Detachment 876 at Rice's 100th birthday celebration June 22 in the front yard of his Flagler Beach home. Photo by Brent Woronoff
A banner honoring World War II veteran Ray Rice in the front yard of his Flagler Beach home during his 100th birthday celebration on June 22. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mementos celebrating Ray Rice's service to his country on his 100th birthday. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Family and friends celebrate Ray Rice's 100th birthday. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ray Rice with his daughters Lana Romeo and Cheryl Clark. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ray Rice talks to his daughter Lana Romeo during this 100th birthday celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ray Rice's family celebrates his 100th birthday. From left: Tyler Adcock, Anthony Romeo-Adcock, Lana Romeo, Cheryl Clark, Brandon Clark, Lilian Clark, Kerri Clark, Caroline Clark, James Cimorelli, Teresa Araujo and Bill Barrett. Front: Ray Rice. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Deputies with the FCSO Motors Unit rides circles in front of Ray Rice's Flagler Beach home on the World War II veteran's 100th birthday. Courtesy photo
Ray Rice, a member of the “Greatest Generation,” never talked to his family about his World War II experience until he was 93 or 94 years old, his daughter Cheryl Clark said.
On Saturday, June 22, Rice celebrated his 100th birthday with his family and friends. Dozens of vehicles drove by his Flagler Beach home to pay respects to the United States Marine veteran. The procession began at Maria del Mar Catholic Church and was organized by the Marine Corps League 1st Sgt. Burdett W. Loucks, Jr. Detachment 876.
Drivers and passengers waved to Rice as they slowly drove by. Rice sat in his wheelchair under a Marine Corps tent and waved back.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office vehicles led the motorcade with motorcycle deputies from the Motors Unit doing riding circles in front of the home on South Daytona Avenue where Clark and Rice live. Rice was given a ride in an FCSO SWAT vehicle before the party moved inside.
“Today was extremely special,” Clark said. “He teared up. He had a lot of fun for the first time in a long time.”
Rice enlisted in the Marines in 1942 when he was 17, his family members said. His Aunt Helen provided written permission to allow the under-aged Rice to join up, said Lana Romeo, Rice’s other daughter.
He went in to fight the Germans. The next thing he knew, he was dropped off by the Seabees at Guadalcanal. He swam into Guadalcanal and almost drowned. He had to take off all his equipment and swim to shore with guns shooting at him.”
— CHERYL CLARK, Ray Rice's daughter
“He went in to fight the Germans,” Clark said. “The next thing he knew, he was dropped off by the Seabees at Guadalcanal. He swam into Guadalcanal and almost drowned. He had to take off all his equipment and swim to shore with guns shooting at him.”
The Guadalcanal campaign was the Allied forces’ first major offensive against Japan in the South Pacific during World War II. The Allies, predominantly the U.S. Marines, landed in the eastern Solomon Islands, capturing an airfield on Guadalcanal that was under construction. The campaign was fought between Aug. 7, 1942 and Feb. 9, 1943. Rice lost most of his hearing during the Japanese’s daily aerial bombardment, Clark said.
It took years for Rice to put his harrowing memories into words. He witnessed women and children jumping off cliffs, Clark said.
As he was eating his birthday lunch with friends and family — including his daughters, his grandchildren and their spouses and his great-grandchildren — Rice recounted some of his memories.
“We had a good group of guys,” he said. “They really watched out for me, being a little short guy like I am. And they favored me.”
Over 80 years later, in his mind’s eye he can still see the horrific image of a dead solider who appeared to be looking up at him.
“We were pulling out and going to another island, and I got lost,” he said. “I crossed a path and there was a GI on the ground with his eyes wide open, staring at me deader than a doornail. He was stretched full length. His eyes were staring right smack at me. And I said, ‘I’ll never forget this.’ And I didn’t.”
After the war, Rice worked as an insurance adjuster for Allstate in New Jersey. His hobby was rebuilding totaled cars by hand.
“When I was getting my driver’s license he told me he had a car for me,” Clark said. “It was a ’65 Chevy. He took me to see it, and it was totaled. By the time it was done, it looked like it came out of a showroom.”
Rice suffered a heart attack when he was in his 50s. Doctors wanted him to undergo open-heart surgery, but he would have nothing to do with that, Clark said.
“Daddy is not only a Marine, but he's an Irish Marine, so he is really stubborn,” she said.
But he changed his lifestyle, she said. He started eating healthy and began taking long walks.
“He’s very religious. He would walk to Santa Maria del Mar every day for Mass,” Clark said.
And on his 100th birthday, he enjoyed the company of his family, friends and fellow Marines from the Marine Corps League detachment.
