Bay of Pigs veteran honored Published April 23, 2013 By MSgt Ken Johnson 117th Air Refueling Wing 4/19/2013 -- Captain Thomas "Pete" Ray was honored today during a short wreath laying ceremony. Ray, a pilot from the Alabama Air National Guard was killed on April 18, 1961 during the Bay of Pigs invasion as part of a CIA secret mission authorized by President John F. Kennedy. Ray's body wasn't returned to the United States until 1979 where he now rest at Forest Hill Cemetery overlooking the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.