The Story of Ray Shuck: A Veteran Who Has Won Our Heart

All of us hold immense respect for the armed forces in our hearts, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with some of the wars which they have fought over the years. The sacrifices which they have made to ensure we get to enjoy our freedom are paramount, and hence they deserve a lot of recognition. The world has engaged in warfare for centuries now, but seldom were they as catastrophic as the World Wars of the early 20th Century.

Thankfully, those wars eventually ended, and to this day we celebrate those of our soldiers who sacrificed their life for the noble cause of protecting their country from foreign invasion on a day called Remembrance Day every year.

However, this year our emotions went on a roller coaster ride when a veteran Paratrooper, whose name is Ray Shuck, was seen standing up with the support of two young paratroopers only to salute the comrades who had fallen on the battlefield. A video of the same found its way to the internet, where it spread like wildfire. People were not only thankful to Shuck for having served his life in the forces, but also appreciative of the amazing and everlasting bond personnel in the armed forces share with each other.

this year our emotions went on a roller coaster ride when a veteran Paratrooper, whose name is Ray Shuck, was seen standing up with the support of two young paratroopers only to salute the comrades who had fallen on the battlefield

How It Happened

As is the common practice on Remembrance Day, members of the armed forces make it a point to visit their fallen comrades at the Cenotaph and pay their respects. And that is exactly what paratroopers John and Kieran had gone to do. But after they were done, they noticed Ray who clearly needed a bit of help to get out of his chair and stand up.

Immediately recognizing the needs of this old person, both the young paratroopers rushed to him for aid, and offer him support as he stands up from his chair. This is when he found himself in a position he had been meaning to assume all along, standing with pride in front of all those who had sacrificed their life for their country, and with a steady movement of the hand he saluted them, before being seated again by taking support of those same paratroopers.

As is the common practice on Remembrance Day, members of the armed forces make it a point to visit their fallen comrades at the Cenotaph and pay their respects

This bond they shared, even though they are generations apart, clearly highlighted the camaraderie that is preached and practiced by members of the armed forces, which makes them one tight unit.

Who is Ray Shuck?

Of course, when people saw this emotional video, many of them wanted to know more about Ray Shuck, mostly about his time as a military person. And they were certainly not disappointed with the information they found about him. Shuck flew inside a plane which was referred to as the Horsa glider at that time as it had no engine, and he headed to France where his mission required him to assume control of the Pegasus Bridge before the Nazi’s reached there first, as they had plans to destroy the bridge.

Although it may sound like an insignificant mission to you, but protecting this bridge put into motion many events that had a very adverse impact on the Nazi side of the war, such as ultimately resulting in their defeat as they couldn’t effectively retaliate once the Allied forces invaded Germany.

when people saw this emotional video, many of them wanted to know more about Ray Shuck, mostly about his time as a military person

However, not all went as smooth for paratrooper Shuck as it may seem, as in the June of 1944 a bullet from a sniper rifle grazed his skull after passing through his helmet. Luckily, Shuck survived, and by the time he was being treated at the Worcester Royal Infirmary, he remembers the doctors and the nurses celebrating the end of the war.

The Highest Honor

For his relentless service to the armed forces, and also for his amazing contributions during the World War, Shuck received the Legion d’Honneur, the highest order in France which is given to those who achieve amazing feats in either the military or for civilian merits.