Little information is available regarding the life of Raymond Cruz. He was born about 1934 in Watsonville to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Cruz, Sr. He, along with brothers James, Juan, Inez and Robert and sisters Mercy, Beatrice and Lillie, is believed to have spent his formative years in the family residence on Wall Street in Watsonville. The family also resided periodically with members of their extended family in Santa Ana, California.

Raymond Cruz joined the US Marine Corps in 1951 or 1952 and received his basic and school-of-infantry training at Camp Pendleton, California. Following his graduation, he was assigned to the marine guard contingent stationed in the US Naval Air Station at Kodiak, Alaska. While serving at that post, Private First Class Raymond Cruz Jr. was the victim of an accidental gunshot wound on October 18, 1952, that proved fatal. The details of the shooting are unavailable.

His body was returned to California and following a funeral on October 28 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Raymond Cruz Jr. was interred in Fairhaven Cemetery in that city.

(WRP October 31, 1952 2:2)