Ray Goulet, D-Day veteran of Portsmouth, mourned after death at 99 on Fourth of July

PORTSMOUTH — Joseph Raymond Goulet, a D-Day veteran who landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France with the first wave of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division in June 1944, died on Independence Day at 99 years old.

The longtime city resident, known as “Ray” and also “Red” for his hair color in his younger years, died at the Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the esteemed World War II veteran was a Pease Greeter and, up until his death, was known for carrying the same leather wallet he had with him on D-Day and throughout his time in World War II.

In January 2021, Goulet was the focal point of a birthday celebration outside the Margeson Apartments, where he lived, in downtown Portsmouth.

Turning 98 years old at that time, Goulet was planning to spend his birthday alone in his residence due to the coronavirus pandemic,. A social media push in the community led to 3,000 birthday cards written and sent to him. Cards addressed to Goulet were sent from all 50 states and came from as far away as Afghanistan.

Obituary: Joseph Raymond Goulet

Days later, a face-masked crowd full of Portsmouth police officers, representatives from the offices of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and retired Army Brigadier Gen. Don Bolduc and more cheered him on in a memorable outdoor birthday bash.

“This is something I didn’t anticipate, but thank you for taking the time to come down here,” Goulet said at his celebration.

Following Goulet’s death, Portsmouth Housing Authority Executive Director Craig Welch remembered the veteran.

“He will be very missed by all of his neighbors and our staff here. Just a class guy and a true American hero, and one of the most humble and kind people that I know,” he said. “I was just honored to know him and get to know him over his years here as a resident of the Margeson Apartments.”

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Base to fill 1,200 jobs in 2 years. How to get hired, what it pays.

According to his obituary, Goulet, a lover of mathematics as a young student, enlisted in the Army for World War II.

Shipped to England, Goulet trained with the American and Allied forces for the invasion of Europe to battle German forces.

It was discovered by the Army that Goulet had special skills that could be used to the Allied forces' advantage. Able to speak and read French fluently, Goulet was moved to the 1st Infantry Division to help the group’s leadership connect with French leaders in preparation for the invasion.

Goulet traveled on the Red Ball Express, a truck convoy system that aided and supplied Allied troops across Europe following the D-Day invasion.

The “Operation Overlord” invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 involved over 150,000 troops from the Allied forces. Goulet, then 21 years old, was one of the first to land at Omaha Beach.

“The bravery, ingenuity (and) sacrifice of our troops pushed the advance of the Army so far beyond the Allies’ planning that Ray never needed to (employ) his French language skills,” his obituary states.

Goulet returned stateside following the war, working at numerous electrical supply businesses for 45 years before retiring to New Hampshire.

Portsmouth news: Download the Seacoastonline mobile app and never miss a story

In Portsmouth, according to his obituary, Goulet was fond of walking each day in Prescott Park, meeting up with city police and reading the newspaper at the Portsmouth Public Library. The city was his home for decades.

Donning a World War II veteran navy blue cap and a United States-themed face mask, Goulet blew kisses to the crowd gathered at his wintertime birthday celebration last year.

A representative from the office of Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, presented the veteran with an American flag that had flown over the United States Capitol Building. Then-Mayor Rick Becksted declared Jan. 14, 2021 “Raymond Goulet Day" in Portsmouth.

Environment: Coakley Landfill Group hasn't cleaned up Berry's Brook 3 years after NH law required it

“I’m honored. It’s a pleasure,” Goulet said at the time. “Everybody is so wonderful, they’re the greatest people in the world right here. The Portsmouth Police Department are the greatest, everybody in the whole city, they’re the greatest people in the whole country.”

Goulet’s funeral services will be private and are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ray Goulet, D-Day veteran of Portsmouth NH, mourned after July 4 death