World War II Honoree

Ralph Hess, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Verden, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 28TH MARINE REGIMENT, 5TH MARINE DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT IWO JIMA WHERE HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1945, AT O845 HOURS, HIS REGIMENT ATTACKED MOUNT SURIBACHI IN A DRIVING RAIN THAT TURNED THE DUSTY SOIL INTO A SUCKING, STICKY MUD. AFTER THREE DAYS OF BATTLING UP THE VOLCANO, THE AMERICAN FLAG WAS RAISED ON SURIBACHI, AND AFTER A LONG FIGHT, THE ISLAND WAS SECURED AND CLEARED OF JAPANESE IN LATE MARCH, 1945. IN ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE WAR, 6,821 AMERICANS, MOSTLY MARINES, LOST THEIR LIVES AND NEARLY ALL OF THE 21,000 JAPANESE DEFENDERS WERE KILLED. ALSO AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.