World War II Honoree

Ralph Howard Elkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dwale, Kentucky

Honored By

Palma, Debra & Cathy

Relationship

Wife & Daughters

ENTERED SERVICE AT FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY IN AUGUST 1943. RECEIVED TRAINING IN TEXAS. LANDED ON THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY ON JULY 15, 1944. SERVED IN THE BATTLE FOR CITY OF CHERBOURG, FRANCE; CONTINUED TO FIGHT IN THE HEDGEROWS OF NORMANDY. HE WAS WOUNDED AND FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND. RETURNED TO REGULAR OUTFIT IN DECEMBER OF 1944. ALSO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THE BATTLE OF THE REMAGEN LUDENSDORF BRIDGE. SERVED WITH COMPANY I, 39TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, OF THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION. AT THE WAR'S END HE WAS AT THE ELBE RIVER WITH THE RUSSIANS. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART WITH 1 CLUSTER, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 5 CAMPAIGN CLUSTERS AND THE BRONZE STAR.