Ensign Rating
Ray O. Pratt, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Pratt of Manning has been commissioned an Ensign, U.S.N.R.
Mr. Pratt enlisted in the Navy as a storekeeper, second class, Sept. 15, 1941. He was advanced to storekeeper first class in June 1942 and received his commission as of August 7th, 1942.
Mr. Pratt came to Manning in 1940, when he and his father purchased and operated the Coast-to-Coast Store here.

He graduated from the Correctionville high school in 1933 and from the University of Iowa in 1938.
At the time of his enlistment he was a director of the Manning Chamber of Commerce.

He adds they got election returns and hear football scores. "At present I am enjoying more evenings than I have known in several years. We "hit the deck at the inglorious hour of five A. M. written 0500. The Navy uses the 24 hour system of designating the hours in the day rather than twice 12 plan employed by most every other agency. But regardless of how anyone writes five A. M. that hour is not a proper one for arising. What can anyone think of a day that begins by getting up in semi-darkness only five hours after midnight? "Breakfast is at 6:30 and at 7:30 we are about the day's work. I am almost half awake by this time and have a faint recollection that once a long time ago I used to arise at this more dignified hour though my slumberous hours were far less than now.
"My nocturnal vagabonding has ceased with a finality that is all but depression. Women have just about ceased to be a part of our life, in fact we have had little more than a glimpse of eligible damsels in nearly four months. It is two months since we had any liberty and then only for a short three hours.

"I said that we start the days work at 7:30 in the morning, but of what this consists I can not give complete information. Censorship will not permit. I may say that the task is not difficult and there are enough hands detailed for its performance to insure no one's being over-worked. Some day when an Iowa blizzard is raging outside I'll come down and sit by the fire on a sack of your sweet clover seed and tell you the details of the Jamestown's unromantic part in this war.

He states he has office work to do but less than when he was in the states. They receive mail only every two months and then there is rejoicing for all. It piles up and arrives in one big lot.
Entertainment is found in nightly movies, the ship library, card playing and "bull sessions", Ray says.
Ray sends holiday greetings.

Mr. Payne has been in the Navy since January, taking his initial training at Cornell.
He had been teaching in a Des Moines high school since he left Manning.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944

Ray Pratt Writes Dear Mother & Dad:
Have said goodbye to the old ship and now am attached to the Shore Patrol as you have aleady noted by the return address on the envelope. I requested sea duty but could get none in the type ships requested so here I am.
Don't know how I will like this job Consists of playing cops and robbers mostly plus the paper, work incident to such work, and driving around in a jeep inspecting details and picking up unmanageable offenders and giving them a ride to headquarters.

I am living in a but which is not as comfortable as my room on the ship. Its clean and dry so really can't complain. Thousands of soldiers and marines are living in, much worse in this war. Food is satisfactory but not as good as on l the ship. Doubt if I ever will eat chow like we had in the Navy.

Several letters were waiting for us here when we returned from two weeks liberty and recreation. There were two from you. One from mother with an addition by dad, and one by dad. I don't have them here at the office so can't comment very much on their contents. Both were full of news and were most enjoyable as they were he first I had from you in about three weeks.

I am writing this on duty and so will have to make it short; just wanted to let you know my address.
Will make more adequate comments on your very excellent letters in my next one in a day or two.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1945

Hospital Fitting Tribute to Men and Women in Uniform
Lt, R. O. Pratt, son of Mr, and Mrs, O. E. Pratt, and co-owner of the local Coast-to-Coast store, is keeping in touch with the home town while serving in the armed forces at Galveston, Tex.

His most recent letter home included his sentiments regarding the proposed hospital purchase by the Manning community. His comment, which is self-explanatory, follows:
"Many towns have already begun projects of one kind or another, new school building, gymnasium, playground, athletic field, parks, recreation centers, to name a few, as a living memorial to service people, particularly to those who have lost their lives in service.

"From all indications, such projects are to be preferred, both by the majority of service personnel, who have been approached on the subject, and the townspeople themselves, instead of statues and stone; monuments, which will do no one any real good.
"Certainly a hospital would be considered a worthy and lasting emblem of tribute to the men and women of Manning who have served in the armed forces."

Memorial services for Raymond O. Pratt were held Monday, May 1, 1989 at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Manning. Reverend Andrew Hofer of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, officiated the service, with Connie Siepker as organist and special music by the Presbyterian Choir.

A partner of the Coast to Coast store here is Raymond Pratt, who lists his hobbies as politics. Born in Chicago and receiving his preparatory schooling at Correctionville, Ray graduated from the State University of Iowa and for a while worked for several firms in Sioux City.