World War II Honoree

Dexter Ragland

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON NOVEMBER 30, 1943 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION CORP BECAUSE OF HIS CIVILIAN OCCUPATION AS RAILWAY SWITCHMAN, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RAILWAY CONDUCTOR (058). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON AUGUST 11, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH COMPANY C, 716TH RAILWAY OPERATIONS BATTALION IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON NOVEMBER 27, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.