Ray H Bloxham

Stories Behind the Stars Biography

Ray H Bloxham was the eighth of twelve children. He was born on Oct 31, 1919 in the small town of Downey, Idaho and died on May 30, 1942 at Camp O Donnell in the Philippine Islands. He was part of the Bataan Death March. Ray was a Tec5 in the 31 Infantry Regiment Company M at the time of his death. Special thanks to Abie Abraham for writing the book “Oh, God, Where Are You” that provided our first real information about Ray’s death. Ray is buried in the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial, Plot L, Row 13, Grave 98.

His parents, Richard Thomas Bloxham and Elsie Henderson Bloxham, sent five of their sons to serve their country in the military during WWII. Only four sons came home. Ray’s older brother Don Devere Bloxham served in the Army and died at age 89 in Pocatello. Three younger brothers also served in the military. Richard Gail (Ben) Bloxham served in the United States Navy as Pharmacists’s Mate First Class USNR. He died at age 76 in Boise, Idaho. Merl H Bloxham served in the Army Service Forces Training Center as a Private. As of January 2021, he is 95 years old and living in Logan, Utah. Von G (Swede) Bloxham served in the Navy as a Coxswain (CB). He died at age 93 in Downey, Idaho.

Before enlisting in the military on Dec 3rd, 1940, Ray was a farmer/rancher helping his dad on the Downey ranch. His father called him Bill but everyone else called him Pinkie because of his red hair.

Ray was part of the Bataan Death March. Ray was a Tec5 in the 31 Infantry Regiment Company M at the time of his death. Special thanks to Abie Abraham for writing the book “Oh, God, Where Are You” that provided our first real information about Ray’s death. Ray is buried in the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial, Plot L, Row 13, Grave 98.