Sergeant Ray Flowers enlisted in the US Army in June 1966 and was sent to Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC. He also completed his AIT Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo, and was stationed at Ft. Hood for 3 years. He began his service as a Combat Engineer, and then became an Atomic Demolition Munitions, or ADM, more commonly known as nuclear land mines. These were small nuclear explosive devices designed to be exploded in the forward battle areas in order to block or channel enemy forces. In other words, Sergeant Flowers was trained to build bridges and blow them up. This position included special training in Nuclear, Biological & Chemical (NBC) Warfare Training, Atomic Demolition, Bridge Construction and many other specialized classes.

Sergeant Flowers served in Vietnam from 1968-1969 in Da Nang and Chu Lai where he was exposed to Agent Orange.  That same year, he married the love of his life, Betty.

After serving in the war, Sergeant Flowers was also stationed in Germany, in such places as Frankfort, Hanau, Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Bamberg, Nuremburg, Airborne Studbach among other cities.  When he returned stateside, he was stationed at Ft Belvoir, VA.   There he was an instructor in areas of the Defense Technical Intelligence Center, the US Army Intelligence and Security Command, and the US Army Military Intelligence Readiness Command.

Sergeant Flowers retired aa an E-7 Sergeant First Class in April 1987 after his youngest son was born.  Although he loved his time in the Army, he needed to be with his family.

Sergeant Flowers was a proud American.  He flew his flag with pride daily, had statues of servicemen in his yard, and kept in touch with some of his fellow soldiers.  Sergeant Flowers passed away on July 3, 2025 from cancer caused by his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.   He is laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Betty, whom he married April 11, 1969.