Raymond J. Border

Chief Petty Officer Raymond J. Border, age 31, of West Lafayette, Ohio, died on October 19, 2011, while assessing a route in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device.

Raymond, a Navy Seabee, was assigned to a provincial reconstruction team in Paktika province, Afghanistan. His home unit was Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Raymond attended Ridgewood High School in West Lafayette.

He had been a Seabee for 12 years and had served one tour in Iraq, and this was his second in Afghanistan. 

Family members stated that he loved his work as a Seabee and that he always had a smile on his face. 

Raymond is survived by numerous loving friends and family members including his parents, Craig and Julie Border; his children Donovan and Shelva; two siblings and a fiancé, whose three children, Raymond was helping to raise. 

Angels of God, pray
for Raymond

He was the recipient of more than 20 medals and awards including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which he received three times; the Joint Meritorious Unit Award; the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal; the Humanitarian Service Medal; medals for expertise with a rifle and pistol; and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Raymond J. Border is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.