World War II Honoree

Ralph J. Wenthold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE TWO DAYS AFTER HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 551ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT (SEPARATE). SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND BELGIUM. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGNS. ARRIVED IN ITALY ABOUT JUNE, 1944 AND BEGAN TRAINING FOR AIR ASSAULT OPERATIONS NEAR ROME, ITALY ON JULY 20, 1944. TOOK PART IN THE PARACHUTE ASSAULT ON THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN COAST IN THE LE MUY-LE LUC AREA ON AUGUST 15, 1944 AS PART OF 'RUGBY FORCE' UNDER THE 1ST AIRBORNE TASK FORCE. THEIR MISSION WAS TO BLOCK GERMAN FORCES FROM THE INVASION BEACHES. EARNED A BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION DURING OPERATIONS IN FRANCE. MOVED TO BELGIUM WHERE HIS UNIT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION DURING MUCH OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, COMBAT PARACHUTIST BADGE WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR FOR ACTIONS BY THE 1ST BATTALION, 551ST PIR AT DRAGUIGNAN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR.