Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany

Ray Barracks was a United States Army installation in Friedberg, Germany until it was closed by the U.S. government in 2007 and returned to the German government. Located in the southern part of the city near the industrial area, the barracks had numerous facilities. The barracks included a firing range for personal weapons qualification, an Urban warfare training site, vehicle maintenance facilities and various recreation facilities. After World War II the barracks were named after First Lieutenant Bernard J. Ray, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. Ray sacrificed himself to destroy a wire obstacle that was blocking his unit's path. The base was deactivated in August 2007.

Friedberg's history as a garrison town dates back to 1645 when a company was formed there to guard the castle. The barracks was originally built in 1900, known as Wartturm Kaserne, and used during World War I and World War II. Early in 1913 the construction of the casern started and by October of the same year the 2nd Battalion of the Hessian 168th Infantry Regiment were stationed there. In the fall of 1914 the entire casern was completed. During World War I the casern was used to confine Russian, French and British officers. After the war the police took possession of the casern until 1933 when Austrian sympathizers of the Nazi regime lived there. At the request of city officials, soldiers were stationed at Ray Barracks in 1938; specifically, the Wehrmacht's 3rd Battalion of the 36th Infantry. Additional buildings were constructed on the casern to make room for more soldiers. Most of these soldiers were eventually deployed to Eastern Front.

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