World War II Honoree

Ralph O'Dell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kingston, Missouri

Honored By

Children and Grandchildren

DRAFTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON JANUARY 26, 1944. ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY FEBRUARY 16TH, AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. FOLLOWING INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING AT THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER, CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA. DEPARTED THE UNITED STATES ON A TROOP SHIP OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO ON OCTOBER 19, 1944, BOUND FOR NEW GUINEA, IN THE ASIATIC- PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. JOINED THE 185TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION, ENGAGED COMBAT OPERATIONS, AND LATER IN TRAINING FOR AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES OCCUPYING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, COMMENCING NOVEMBER 1944. IN THE FOLLOWING 17 MONTHS, PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST THREE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS. SAW SERVICE IN NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND KOREA INCLUDING SCOUTING AND PATROLLING IN ENEMY HELD TERRITORY. FOLLOWING OCCUPATION DUTY IN KOREA, DEPARTED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ON THE TROOP SHIP USS EBERLE ON FEBRUARY 21, 1946. ARRIVED SAN FRANCISCO ON MARCH 5TH. DISCHARGED ON MARCH 11, 1946, AT FORT LEAVENWORTH. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH THREE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON. CAMPAIGN CREDITS INCLUDE NEW GUINEA, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AND LUZON.