World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Ralph William Raby
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Saguache, Colorado
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a Rifleman with Charlie Company, First Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, and element of the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division Location: Northwest Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands (Battle Dates: Easter Sunday, April 1–June 22, 1945) Code Name: Operation Iceberg. Sunday, May 13, 1945 he was mortally wounded, during combat operations against the Imperial Japanese forces, with burial in the First Marine Division Okinawa Battlefield Cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Hillside Cemetery Saguache, Colorado. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.