World War II Honoree

Ralph R. Baldwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Delta, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE COLORADO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ASSIGNED TO C COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 157TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY ‘THUNDERBIRD’ DIVISION, WHO WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE SEPTEMBER 16, 1940 AT DENVER, COLORADO. COMPLETED BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, WITH ADDITIONAL AT CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE TEXAS AND LOUISIANA MANEUVERS. DEPLOYED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER, ARRIVING IN NORTH AFRICA JUNE 22, 1943 AND PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY. HE ENDURED 511 DAYS OF COMBAT, COMMENCING ON JULY 10, 1943 DURING THE ASSAULT ON SCOGLITTI, SICILY, ADVANCING THROUGH ITALY, SOUTHERN FRANCE AND ENDING IN MUNICH, GERMANY. SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN GERMANY AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 7 BATTLE STARS, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. FOREIGN DECORATION: FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945.