World War II Honoree

Ronald T. Wangberg, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Yakima County, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY NOVEMBER 13, 1940 AT FORT MEADE, SOUTH DAKOTA. SERVED WITH FOX COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON BATAAN, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE COUNTERATTACK BY THE 31ST REGIMENT AT ABUCAY HACIENDA. REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1942 AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, BRONZE STAR AND A PURPLE HEART WERE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.