[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4755]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     BREAUX BRIDGE LOSES KEY LEADER JOHN ``JOHNNY'' THOMAS RAYMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 24, 2014

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to 
commemorate the passing of a great leader in our community who served 
his country as a soldier and later as a civic leader while opening 
numerous small businesses in South Louisiana.
  John ``Johnny'' Thomas Raymond was a distinguished war veteran who 
served as a platoon leader in the Korean War and later became a member 
of the Army's 77th Special Forces Group. This group helped to train and 
reorganize the Royal Thai Army Ranger Battalion in special operations. 
In 2004, he was recognized as the father of the Royal Thai Army's 
special forces. After serving a tour in Vietnam, Johnny retired from 
the Army in 1968 as a lieutenant colonel. His decorated military career 
included receiving the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf 
cluster, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army 
Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Vietnamese Gallantry 
Cross, and the Gold Star.
  Johnny was instrumental in laying the foundation for numerous civic 
activities such as the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame & Museum in 
Abbeville and the Breaux Bridge Downtown Merchants Association. He was 
also active in the Atchafalaya Basin Board in addition to the Louisiana 
Boxing Commission. For many years, he served on the Louisiana Nursing 
Home Association Board of Directors. This year, he was chosen as King 
Agricole II of the Krewe de St. Martin.
  Survivors include his wife, Coatney Sibley Raymond of Breaux Bridge; 
his son, John R. ``Bobby'' Raymond and his wife, DeAnna, of Owasso, OK, 
his daughters, Renee R. Delahoussaye and Carol Raymond both of Breaux 
Bridge; his grandson, John C. Raymond and his wife, Joy, of Baton Rouge 
and one great granddaughter, Sadie Laine Raymond; his stepsons, Barrett 
Reid Branch and his wife, Angel, Byron Branch and his wife, Rhonda, all 
of Breaux Bridge, and Beau Branch and his wife, Wendy, of Broussard, 
and 5 step grandchildren, Sydney Branch, Barry Branch, Deuce Hardy, 
Julian Branch and Tylor Guillot.

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