World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Ralph D. Rector
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Shawnee County, Kansas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY APRIL 23, 1942 AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLOAD. SERVED WITH BRAVO COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘THE ALL-AMERICAN’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1944 IN THE AREA OF BAUPT, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO KANSAS, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.