Values Of Vietnam Hero Remembered in New Book

James C. Metzger is clear about his feelings for a student-athlete who was a lacrosse trailblazer and an American hero. “Ray Enners is an iconic name on Long Island,” stated Metzger.

Metzger would know. While he never met Raymond Enners, who was killed in action in Vietnam, Metzger received the Lt. Ray Enners Award as the outstanding Suffolk high school lacrosse player for the 1977 season. The county award exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership. Metzger’s nephew, Rob Pannell, won the Lt. Raymond Enners Award during 2011 and 2013 as the outstanding NCAA men’s college lacrosse player in the country.

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Photo: Rob Pannell, left, and James Metzger received lacrosse awards named in honor of Lt. Raymond Enners.

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Enners played lacrosse at Half Hollow Hills High School in Dix Hills. He continued to excel at the game at the United States Military Academy. During his senior year, Enners was named an NCAA All-American. Slightly more than a year later, he was killed in action in Vietnam. On September 18, 1968, demonstrating selflessness and leadership, Lieutenant Enners rescued a wounded soldier and then led an assault on an enemy position that cost him his life.

A new book about Raymond Enners that focuses on selflessness and sacrifice has been published by Acclaim Press and is available on Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. Heart of Gray was written by Enners’ younger brother, Richard, who also is a West Point graduate. Earlier this month, at the invitation of Metzger, the chairman and CEO of the insurance brokerage and financial services firm The Whitmore Group in Garden City, Long Island high school coaches, administrators and former players, along with many other guests, gathered to meet Richard Enners and to learn more about his brother.

The book “was a long time coming,” said Enners. “It was time to honor my brother, Ray, not only for his acts of valor in battle but it was my way of thanking him for his encouragement and inspiration that made me a better athlete, husband, father and leader.”

West Point Pride and Honor

Heart of Gray takes the reader on a journey that reveals how West Point and its values of “Duty, Honor, Country” influenced Raymond Enners. The book places a spotlight on the rigorous training that provided Enners with the confidence and courage to face life-threatening situations.

The word “gray” that appears in the title of the book is a West Point symbol of pride and honor that dates back to the early 1800s when the color gray was approved for cadet uniforms. Raymond Enners embraced this tradition during his time at the academy and during his brief service to the country.

“Ray met every challenge with ethics, optimism, will and determination,” said his brother who added that Raymond believed in accountability. He also believed that lessons are learned to lead others toward an outcome that is beneficial for an organization.

Beyond honoring his brother, the author wrote the book to inspire others to live their lives with a purpose similar to that of Raymond Enners and to make a difference in the lives of others.

To help ensure that Raymond Enners’ contributions will continue to inspire others, Metzger will provide a copy of Heart of Gray to all the public high school lacrosse coaches in Suffolk and Nassau counties. Copies of the book also will be provided to school administrators. The book also will be sent to the coaches and administrators in the Catholic High School Lacrosse League.

“My hope,” said Metzger, “is that everyone who reads Heart of Gray will share with others the ideals cherished by Lt. Raymond Enners.”