World War II Honoree

Ralph Ellsworth Wakefield

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Honored By

William B. Wakefield

Relationship

son

ENLISTED ON FEBRUARY 9, 1942, TRAINED AT BOOT CAMP IN PARIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, THEN TRANSFERRED TO NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA. SHIPPED OVERSEAS WITH THE THIRD MARINES AND SERVED AS AN INFANTRYMAN, FIELD MUSICIAN, MAIL CLERK, AND TEMPORARILY, AS A VOLUNTEER B-25 TAIL GUNNER WHILE IN THE PACIFIC THEATRE. STATIONED ON GUADALCANAL, SAMOA, FIJI, NEW ZELAND, AND AUSTRALIA, FROM SEPTEMBER OF 1942 TO OCTOBER OF 1943. MEDIVACED TO NEW CALEDONIA, THEN TO OAK KNOLL AND GREAT LAKES NAVAL HOSPITALS IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED AS MARINE GUARD AT THE NAVAL PRISION, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, THEN AS A GUARD WITH THE NAVAL SECURITY DETACHMENT, NATIONAL CASH REGISTER FACILITY IN DAYTON, OHIO. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON FEBRUARY 18, 1946.