Raymond Henry Cooley was born on May 7, 1916, in Dunlap. In September 1941, he joined the United States Army, a few months before its entrance into World War II. Cooley was staff sergeant of Company B, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division and participated in both the New Guinea invasion and the battles of Guadalcanal, before receiving orders for the Philippines.

On February 24, 1945, during an assault on an enemy encampment, Cooley chose to shield his comrades from harm by covering a live grenade with his body. Though seriously wounded, Cooley survived the explosion. For his actions, President Harry S. Truman presented Cooley with the Medal of Honor on August 23, 1945.

The injuries from his action, including the loss of his right hand, left Cooley in constant pain; for relief, he turned to drugs and alcohol. Cooley died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, in which he was under the influence, at the age of 30 on March 12, 1947.