Raftis, LTJG Daniel James Jr. 1921 - 1944

RAFTIS, DUNN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/29/2014 at 02:29:59

Waterloo Daily Courier. Sunday, 9 July 1944.

Oelwein- Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Raftis of Oelwein have been notified by the Navy Department that their son, Lt. (j.g.) Daniel James Raftis, Jr., of the USNAR had been killed June 27. He had been in the Mediterranean area for the last year and a half.

Lieutenant Raftis was born at Wadena, Ia., Apr. 25, 1921, and in 1926 the family moved to Elkader. He attended grade school at St. Joseph's, later moving with the family, where he graduated in 1938 from Sacred Heart High School. While in high school he was active in athletics.

The same year he enrolled at Loras College in Dubuque, where he went for two years. He then went to the University of Iowa at Iowa City and graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In June 1942 he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and was called to report for duty in August of the same year.

Lieutenant Raftis received the commission of Ensign on completion of his studies at Notre Dame University at South Bend, Ind., and Northwestern University in Chicago. On Mar. 1, 1944 he received his promotion to Lieutenant (j.g.).

He is survived by his parents and one brother, Irving, Seaman Second Class, in the U.S. Navy, who is on duty in the pacific area; also a sister, Mary Margaret, Kansas City.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Oelwein at 9 a.m. on Monday.

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NOTE: He was the son of Daniel and Anna (Dunn)Raftis. He, his parents, and his brother Irving, are all buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Elkader. His parents and brothers obits are posted.

Submitter is not related.

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