Fred Ray Long

World War II Veteran Fred R. Long, 99, was born near Oroville, Washington on November 6, 1922 to Harry L. and Virgie Lea (Wright) Long. On June 16, 2022 he went to join his beloved wife of over 70 years Val (Valeta) and his Lord and Savior.

The depression caused many customers not to pay their bills to father’s shoe repair business consequently he was unable to pay his bills. This resulted in Fred’s father and family along with his father’s brother and family to pack up and move to homestead near MauriceTown, B. C. Canada in 1930. In 1932 the family moved to the Seattle-Renton area.

In the summer of 1940 Fred and 2 of his older brothers signed up for the National Guard and were inducted into Federal Service on September 16, 1940, supposedly for one year of training and then would be released. However the draft was instituted before the one year was up and he did not get out as planned. It was his mother’s request that her sons try get into a Quartermaster unit. His first assignment was as a truck driver at Camp Murry, north of Fort Lewis, Washington.

While on a weekend pass to Seattle Pearl Harbor was attack and all servicemen were instructed to report immediately to Eighth and Stewart streets in Seattle and they would be transported back to their base. Fred and his brothers were assigned to the 186th Quartermaster Depot Company. In February 1943 Fred was initially reassigned to the 78th Infantry Division and later that month reassigned to the 96th Infantry Division.

In the summer of 1944 Fred was sent to Hawaii with the 96th Quartermaster Company. September 1944 found Fred on a ship bound for Leyte Island in the Philippines where they would participate in the invasion of Leyte Island. In March 1945 they loaded onto ships and headed for Okinawa. Landing Day was Easter Sunday in April.

Fred was convinced that driving a truck during the Leyte and Okinawa campaigns was the best possible job that he could have had. In July 1945 Fred, along with the 96th Infantry Division, went to the Mindoro, Philippines to rest up for the invasion of Japan. While in Mindoro they received the news of the dropping of the atomic bomb and soon the war was over. Fred arrived back at Fort Lewis on Christmas Eve and arrived home (in Washington State) on Christmas Day 1945.

Although he had told many of his friends that he wasn’t going to get married, on New Year’s Day 1946, Fred walked into ‘Walt’s Bakery and Fountain’ in Kirkland, Washington and saw the most beautiful young lady he had ever seen. He knew she was to be his wife. They dated and after nine days he asked her to marry him. Her response that she didn’t even know him did not deter Fred and on April 2, 1946 they were married.

Fred’s career included periods of time working in construction, selling and managing car sales at various car dealers, and managing apartments. Fred and Val celebrated their 70th Anniversary together in 2016.

Fred is survived by a son, David Long (Lois): of Preston, Connecticut; Son-in-law: David Ward, grandchild: Adrenne Deck (Damien); and great grandchild: Sophia Deck, of Connecticut. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Val and daughter Cathy Ward (David).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneral.com for the Long family.