World War II Honoree

Ralph Duwayne Axelsen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Superior, Wisconsin

Honored By

Cheryl, Patty, Jim & Hunter

Relationship

Daughters, Son & Grandson

ENTERED THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN FEBRUARY, 1943. HE RECEIVED A 2ND LIEUTENANT COMMISSION AND SERVED AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS; ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA; LOWRY FIELD, COLORADO; BOCA RATON, FLORIDA AND SEYMOR JOHNSON FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA. HE ATTENTED YALE UNIVERSITY AS PART OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES TECHNICAL TRAINING COMMAND AND WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE THEN SERVED AT LINCOLN AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA; DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE AND SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. IN SEPTEMBER, 1945 HE WENT TO CAMP STONEMAN, CALIFORNIA FOR DEPLOYMENT TO THE PHILLIPINES AND ON TO JAPAN WITH THE 8TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 49TH FIGHTER GROUP SUPERVISING MAINTENANCE OF AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT, BOMB SIGHTS, ROCKETS AND AUTOPILOTS. IN JAPAN, HE WAS STATIONED AT ATSUGI, CHITOSE, IRUMAGAWA AND MURAYAMA. HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES ON JUNE 28, 1946 AND WAS SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON AUGUST 1, 1946 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.