Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) Life Member and Webmaster Dan Marks is honoring WW2 Submarine Veteran Ray Marshall, who went on Eternal Patrol on on September 10, 2021, at the age of 101 years old. Gilbert, AZ, honors Veterans by displaying Military Tribute banners in the Heritage District along Gilbert Road! The banners were hung from May 21st to July 8th to coincide with the display periods of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The banners were taken down on July 8th and then put back up for Veterans Day.
Ray Marshall's banner was located on the east side of Gilbert Road at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce parking lot at 119 N Gilbert Rd.
ENC(SS) Raymond Marshall, a WW2 veteran, made 12 war patrols on two different boats. Ray joined the Navy in January 1939 and retired as a Chief Engineman in 1959. His first assignment was on the destroyer USS Mahan (DD‑364) from 1939 to 1940, but then was assigned to the Submarine Service in 1940. He qualified in submarines in 1941 on the USS Porpoise (SS‑172). Ray made 12 war patrols during WW2 on two different boats. He served for six war patrols on the Porpoise, leaving as a Motor Machinist Mate First Class, then six more war patrols on the USS Guavina (SS‑362) where he became a Chief Motor Machinist Mate.
After the banner was taken down on December 5, Dan gave it to Raymond's daughter, Marion, as a memory keepsake. Marion said, "It meant so much to her and her husband Ron to have him remembered for the amazing man who he was. Ron and Marion did get to see the banner hanging on Gilbert Rd where he could oversee the world he so enjoyed passing by."

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