World War II Honoree

Raul Ramirez

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Peñitas, Texas

Honored By

Ricardo Alanis

Relationship

Nephew

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 30, 1942, during the early stage of WWII. It was seven weeks after Pearl Harbor was attacked and America was at war with both Germany and Japan. He was first stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where he completed basic training. After basic training, most soldiers trained in Infantry. Because of his knowledge in heavy trucks and machinery, he was assigned to learn and operate heavy military vehicles. At Advanced Individual Training (AIT) he learned his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Truck Driver Heavy MOS 931. After basic training and advance training as a heavy truck driver, he was deployed to Alaska to the Aleutian Islands to fight in the Aleutian Campaign in the battles of Attu and Kiska. The islands were important territory for they were used for airfields for refueling warplanes and naval vessels. The U.S. Army fought for over a year to recapture the islands. He arrived in Alaska on June 3, 1942, the Japanese had already attacked Attu and Kiska Islands and occupied them. In May 1943, U.S. troops retook Attu and Kiska and defeated the Japanese military. After fighting the Japanese for over a year, he was stationed with the 5th Infantry Training Company School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was promoted to Private First Class and became an instructor of the heavy trucks and taught new soldiers how to drive them. He served another two years at Fort Benning, where Infantry soldiers were trained. He earned and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal for his service in the Aleutian Islands in the Pacific theater. This medal was awarded to American soldiers that fought against Japan. He was issued an honorable service lapel pin the 'Ruptured Duck' when he separated from the Army. He was also awarded the WWII Victory Medal. On October 17, 1945, he completed his military service in the United States Army. He was transferred to Camp Sibert Separation Point in Alabama to process out of the U.S. Army. He was given his service pin and moved back to his hometown of Peñitas, Texas.