World War II Honoree

Ralph William Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Erie County, North Carolina

Honored By

Alan Cox, Jr.

Relationship

Great Nephew

MEMBER OF COMPANY E, 36TH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT, THIRD ARMOR DIVISION. KILLED 21 APRIL 1945 AT DESSAU, GERMANY, WHILE HIS UNIT WAS PARTICIPATING IN AN ATTACK ON THAT TOWN. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, HE WAS ACTING AS MOTOR AND SUPPLY OFFICER FOR HIS COMPANY. HE LEFT THE LOCATION WHERE THE COMPANY VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND WENT FORWARD IN A 1/4-TON TRUCK TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF HIS COMPANY IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT RE-SUPPLY THEM WITH RATIONS AND AMMUNITION. AFTER HE HAD TRAVELED FORWARD ABOUT A HALF MILE HE APPARENTLY SAW A ROW OF MINES ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF HIM, AS HE HAD STOPPED HIS 1/4-TON DIRECTLY BEHIND THEM. HE WAS FIRED UPON BY ENEMY INFANTRY MEN WHO WERE CONCEALED IN DUGOUTS IN A FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS TO HIS RIGHT. HE LEFT HIS VEHICLE AND RAN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS TO AN ORCHARD ON HIS LEFT. A PATROL WAS SENT OUT BY THE COMPANY THAT NIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO LOCATE HIM, AND FOUND HIS BODY LEANING AGAINST A SMALL BUILDING IN THE ORCHARD. HE HAD BEEN KILLED BY SMALL ARMS FIRE THROUGH THE CHEST. HE HAD BEEN AWARDED A BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTION IN FRANCE ON 26 JULY 1944.