Jimmy D. Raynor was born in Chinquapin, North Carolina on August 19, 1942. After graduation from Chinquapin High School, he enrolled at Mount Olive College and transferred to NC State where he received an Associate in Agriculture Degree.

Jimmy was drafted into the Army in August, 1964. He was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia for eight weeks of basic training. After graduation from basic training, Jimmy was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas to the 1st Infantry Division — The Big Red One — as a mechanic for two months. He was then transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky to tank armor School.

After graduation from tank armor school, he was promoted to a tank armor mechanic and returned to Fort Riley, Kansas.
immediately after returning to Fort Riley, Kansas, Jimmy's units loaded their equipment and went to Vietnam where he served the remainder of his assignment and was honorably discharged in August of 1966.

The 1' Infantry Division was one of the first units assigned to duty in Vietnam.