World War II Honoree

Ralph W. Evans

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Stewart Wyland

Relationship

Son-in-law

INFANTRY SOLDIER, BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN. SERVED IN B COMPANY, 387TH REGIMENT, 97TH DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN CAMPAIGN TO CLEAR THE RUHR POCKET, ONE OF THE LAST MAJOR BATTLES OF WWII, FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY 1945, ENDING UP IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. FIRED THE NEXT-TO-LAST SHOT OF THE WAR IN EUROPE WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE PRIVATE 1ST CLASS DOMENIC MOZZETTA WHO IS CREDITED WITH FIRING THE LAST SHOT. WAS WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL FROM A GERMAN 88MM GUN WHICH PIERCED HIS HELMET AND INJURED HIS HEAD. HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE PACIFIC TO BECOME THE 'FLOATING RESERVE' FOR OPERATION CORONET, THE INVASION OF THE JAPANESE ISLAND OF HONSHU. SERVED AS PART OF THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN JAPAN AND WAS PROMOTED TO TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. LEFT THE SERVICE IN 1946.