Raymond E Gerner
Kentucky Post, Friday, 8 June 1945, page 1
With nearly two years of service in the US Marine Corps behind him
and memories of Cap Gloucester and Peleliu, Pfc. Ray E Gerner, 19 year old son
of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Gerner, of 920 Park avenue, Newport, is back at his old job
as radio technician with Pepper and Hake, 1005 Monmouth street, Newport. In July
1943 Gerner entered the Marine Corps at Parris Island SC and shortly after began
training as radio operator at Camp Lejeune NC. Subsequent assignments took him
to California and ultimately to Cape Gloucester and Peleliu.
It was while gaining a beachhead at Peleliu that his group was faced with a number of Jap tanks. One passed completely over Gerner. However, he escaped with only a crushed left foot. He received the Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation before being discharged May 6.
********
Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 20 September 1955, page 2
The Gerner Appliance Co is holding open house this week to celebrate the opening of its newly decorated and greatly expanded headquarters at 316 E 10th street, Newport. The expansion climaxes one decade of growth and progress in a business that Ray Gerner started as a radio service shop.
That was in 1945, just after Mr. Gerner returned from overseas duty with the US Marine Corps and was discharged with the Purple Heart award and an honorable service record.