World War II Honoree

Ralph W. Barr

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Evansville, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JANUARY 17, 1941 AT EVANSVILLE, INDIANA AND BECAME A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH A-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. HE JUMPED INTO THE AREA OF STE. MERE EGLISE, BATTLE OF NORMANDY ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE ASSAULT IN THE VICINITY OF LA FIERE, NORMANDY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE PARK LAWN CEMETERY, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.