World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Ralph Edward Nuttle
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pawnee, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. SERVED WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD UNTIL HIS REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS; FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS; PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK; AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 25, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 8, 1943, LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943 AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN SICILY, ITALY, AND FRANCE. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9, 1943 AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF MOTTA HILL; ASSAULTED SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943 AND ENGAGED IN HEAVY FIGHTING AT PONTE SELE AND THE TOBACCO FACTORY; FROM NOVEMBER 3, 1943-JANUARY 9, 1944, FOUGHT TO TAKE VENAFRO AND KEY MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS INCLUDING HILL 769, AQUAFONDATA, AND SANT’ELIA FIUMERAPIDO DURING OPERATIONS NEAR CASSINO, ALONG THE GUSTAV LINE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN 1944, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS) AND 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION AT ACQUAFONDATA, ITALY DURING THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.