Raymond Martin Kaiser, 96 years old, formally of Sardis, MS passed away on December 1, 2015. Mr. Kaiser was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Irish-German heritage, and was a resident of Metairie, LA for over 50 years.

As a member of the Greatest Generation, he lived his life by serving God, Country and Family. He was accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 during WWII. He served as a fighter pilot in the China Burma arena under the command of General Claire Chennault of the 14th Air Corp. He was a member of the 25th Fighter Squadron famously known as the Assam Draggin’ fighter-bombers and assigned to the 51st Pursuit Group stationed in Yunnani, China. While flying one of his 116 missions in a Curtis P-40 Warhawk, he was shot down over enemy territory and was rescued by Chinese civilians. Because of his devotion to the French Saint, Therese of Lisieux, he had affectionately named his aircraft “the Little Flower.” At the end of the war, the recovered hull was originally headed to the Smithsonian Institute; however, in the interim, a Catholic chaplain had begun using it as an altar for mass and thus “the Little Flower” remained in China. Upon returning stateside as a decorated lieutenant, Raymond completed his military duty in Greenwood, Mississippi, as a flight instructor with the Army Air Corp.

Through his military connections, he met his bride Helen Riley, at the Air National Guard Base in Memphis, TN. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in June 2015. As a faithful Catholic and member of St. Ann Catholic Church, he attended mass as long as his health permitted. He attended Manresa Retreats annually from 1959 to 2012 when he was asked to relinquish his slot to those who were “truly in need” of salvation.

He was a devoted husband and father His survivors include his wife, Helen Riley Kaiser; his daughters, Therese K. Palmertree and Elizabeth A. Kaiser of Metairie, LA; his grandchildren, Jason M. Palmertree of Metairie, LA, Rachel P. Stewart and her husband, Chris of Baton Rouge, LA, Riley M. Palmertree of Washington, DC; his sister Joan Kaiser of Greenwich, CT; his great grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral mass at St. Ann Catholic Church on 3601 Transcontinental Drive in Metairie, LA, on Monday December 7, 2015, at 11:00 AM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM prior to the mass.

Graveside services with military honors will be held on Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 2015, at 1:00 PM in Rose Hill Cemetery, Sardis, MS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Ann Catholic Church. The online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home - Sardis Chapel has charge of the graveside services.