World War II Honoree

Ralph Emerson Darling

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Plano, Illinois

Honored By

Children

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AND WAS TRAINED AS A RADAR REPAIRMAN, A VERY SECRET SKILL. AS THE INVASION OF THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS APPEARED IMMINENT, AND EVERY LANDING CRAFT HAD AN ENSIGN FOR A BOAT OFFICER, HE DECLINED AN OFFICER’S COMMISSION. HE WAS SITTING IN PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII WITH THE INVASION FLEET WHEN THE WAR ENDED IN AUGUST 1945. THE FLEET WAS QUICKLY UNLOADED OF MOST OF ITS COMBAT SUPPLIES AND RELOADED WITH SUPPLIES SUITED FOR THE OCCUPATION FORCES. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICANS ASHORE AT TOKYO BAY AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN. HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE NAVY IN MAY 1946.