Joseph Raymond “Ray” or “Red” Goulet, 99, a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, passed away on Independence Day, Monday, July 4, 2022, at the Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth, NH.

Ray was born in Lawrence Mass, the son of Leda and Gaudias Goulet, who emigrated from Quebec, Canada to work in Lawrence’s textile industry. For much of his life, most people knew him as Red, because of his wavy red hair. He was educated in the Lawrence School System, where he developed an affinity for mathematics.

Ray voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War Il and after recruit training, his affinity for math and good organizational skills led to orders in the Army Service Forces (now the Army Quartermaster Corps). While in England training with U.S. and Allied forces to invade Europe and defeat Hitler’s forces, Army planners discovered that Ray spoke and read French fluently. He was seconded to the Army’s 1st Infantry Division to employ his language skills to connect the Division’s leadership with local French Leaders and help open routes to the Army’s inland objectives. Ray landed with the first wave of the 1st Infantry Division on D-Day, June 6th, 1944, at Omaha Beach. The bravery, ingenuity, sacrifice of our troops pushed the advance of the Army so far beyond the Allies’ planning that Ray never needed to employee his French language skills.

He returned to Army Service Forces where his math skills natural organizational talents soon resulted in promotion to Tech Sergeant and put in charge of operating a mobile advance Post Exchange to support our Troops. When the U.S. and Allied armies’ rapid advance towards Germany soon resulted in moving farther and faster than it could be resupplied by conventional means, Ray stepped up to serve; driving trucks loaded with fuel, ammunition and other urgently needed supplies to the ever-advancing front lines. In an amazing display of the flexibility and resourcefulness of our U.S. Citizen Soldiers, he was soon joined by thousands of others in the hastily assembled organization which came to be known as the “Red-Ball Express” which ran truck convoys non-stop, 24/7, regardless of the enemy, the weather or any other obstacles for months to keep the Allied Advance moving, not allowing Hitler’s forces to rest or fully reorganize. This often-overlooked chapter of the war was credited as greatly reducing the potential number of Allied Army casualties and for shortening the war in Europe.

Ray had repeatedly requested transfer to the Infantry, and his request was eventually granted, but the war in Europe was won before he completed Infantry Training and could be assigned to a combat unit. To his final days, Ray carried the same battered and worn old leather wallet that accompanied him everywhere (sometimes against regulations) throughout the entire War. That iconic wallet was photographed and was captured on video when he was interviewed by the local and regional news-media. People would often stop him and ask him if they could see his by then famous wallet and hear its story.

After returning from the War, his math and supply management skills again served him well, gaining him a chance to prove himself in the electrical supply industry, first at Dyer-Clark Electrical Supply, then at Finberg Supply in Lawrence, then at Nelson M. Powell Electrical Supply in Haverhill, MA. He worked for 15 years for each company before taking his well-deserved retirement and relocating permanently to New Hampshire.

Ray called his beloved Portsmouth his home for decades. Ray enjoyed his daily walks at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, N.H., walking with the Portsmouth N.H. Police on Wednesdavs and reading the newspaper at the Public Library. He enjoyed reading History Books, and strongly supported our First Responders and members of the Military. He was an enthusiastic member of the Pease Greeters welcoming many thousands of our Troops who stopped over at Pease International Airport while deploying oversees or returning to the U.S.A. His heartfelt care and encouragement gave inspiration to many. He will be sorely missed around the streets of Portsmouth and in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

His family members include his daughter, Barbara A. Gitschier (Goulet) and her husband, Robert Gitschier of Centreville, VA., his sons Wayne R. Goulet of Rochester, NH., Robert G. Goulet and his wife, Maureen of Dracut, MA., Grandchildren, Peter M. Goulet of Dracut, MA; and Jonathan R. Goulet, of TX. Ray was predeceased by his brothers’ and sister, Roland Goulet, Lionel “Leo” Goulet, and Irene (Goulet) Poirier.

Funeral services are private. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury St. Lawrence, MA, 01841. For more information or to send an online condolence and other information, please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com

Published in Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday, Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday