World War II Honoree

Ralph E. Minckler, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Worcester, Massachusetts

Honored By

Pamela Trummer

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED AS A SWIMMER ON RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS. HE WOULD SWIM MILES AT A TIME AT NIGHT FROM A NAVY SHIP TO SHORE TO CHECK THE SITUATION PRIOR TO OTHER TROOPS LANDING THERE. OFTEN HE AND THE OTHER SWIMMERS WOULD BE UNDER FIRE WHEN THEY REACHED SHORE AND WOULD HAVE TO SWIM BACK AMID GUNFIRE. ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN ISLANDS THAT HE RECONNOITERED WAS IWO JIMA. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MARINE CORPS FROM NOVEMBER 1942 TO DECEMBER 1945.