Ray Eugene Duke was born in Whitwell in 1923. He joined the United States Army during World War II and remained in the military after the war ended. His unit was sent from its base in Japan to South Korea following the North Korean invasion in June 1950.

In 1951, Duke’s division was part of a push north from Seoul, the South Korean capital, across the 38th parallel into North Korea. By early April, the United Nations (UN) forces had moved well across the border, but on April 22, the UN troops were hit by a massive Chinese and North Korean attack. Duke’s Medal of Honor action came as his division was conducting a fighting withdrawal. He was captured during the retreat and died as a prisoner of war. His death date is listed as November 11, 1951.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Duke was promoted to master sergeant posthumously. He received many awards, including a Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, and the Order of Military Merit from South Korea (also called the Taegeuk, South Korea’s equivalent of the Medal of Honor).