Ralph “Red” Radosh

ASN:36629267

Ralph Frank Radosh registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. Born February 21, 1919, he was from Chicago, Illinois and employed by Steel Sales Corporation.

Enlisting in the US Army on December 22, 1942, this twenty-one-year-old was 5’-11”, 180 pounds with a light, freckled complexion, hazel eyes, red hair, and no other obvious physical characteristics that would aid in identification.

Private Ralph Radosh became a member of the 319th Glider Field Artillery, A-Battery of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, MOS844 (Gun Crewman Light Artillery). He deployed with the battalion on April 29, 1943 and sailed on the SS Santa Rosa to North Africa arriving in Casablanca, Morocco, May 10, 1943.

Company Morning Reports

Company Morning Reports were produced every morning by the individual Army units to record personnel matters. The following events for PFC Ralph Radosh were reported:

• August 12, 1943, duty to absent sick Hospital APO 758, 1000, Station Kairouan, Tunisia.

• September 2, 1943, from absent sick to duty at 2350. Station 11 miles north of Bizerte, Tunisia.

• From duty to Wounded in Action, September 12, 1943, last reported 8 miles NW of Maiori, Italy.

• December 12, 1943, assigned and joined from 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion. Station Ballyscullion House, Northern Ireland.

• March 21, 1944, from duty to sick quarters at 0730, Station - Papillon Hall, Lubenham, England

• March 27, 1944, from sick quarters to line of duty, 0600.

• July 19, 1944, from duty to furlough 5 days to Birmingham, England at 0600.

• July 24, 1944, from furlough 5 days in Birmingham, England to duty at 2000.

• August 1, 1944, appointed Private First Class from Private. Station Papillon Hall, 4 miles west (WF1406) Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England.

• June 14, 1945, detached temporary duty, absent sick US Army 815th Hospital Center transferred to Detachment of Patients US Army Hospital Plant 4316.

Following glider and artillery training in North Africa, he fought in the major campaigns of Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Holland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.

Private Radosh was seriously wounded (multiple shell fragments left arm and forearm) in a mortar attack on his gun position September 12, 1943, during the fighting near Maiori, Italy. (Italy campaign) He was evacuated to a US Hospital in North Africa. Radosh returned to duty with the 319th on December 12, 1943, rejoining his unit now billeted at Camp Ballyscullion House, Northern Ireland, preparing for the upcoming Normandy D-Day campaign.

Ralph Radosh posed with other members of his gun crew during the Battle of the Bulge (see photo below) near Froidville, Belgium, December 27, 1944.

The 319th was later stationed in Suippes, France, just prior to the final Central Europe campaign and defeat of the Germany Army ending World War II.

On March 23, 1945, PFC Radosh was hospitalized at the 815th Hospital Center near Paris, France. On or about June 14, 1945, he was transferred from the ETO to a US Army Hospital, arriving July 27, 1945.

He separated and was honorably discharged from the service on October 10, 1945 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

PFC Radosh was awarded 6 Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead (Normandy), Good Conduct Medal, the Belgian Fourragere, French Fourragere of the Croix De Guerre, Presidential Unit Citation Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Glider Badge, World War II Victory Medal and the Purple Heart.

During the post-war years Ralph Radosh remained active with the 319th association and attended commemorative events. Below, he posed with fellow 319th soldiers and their wives during the 1967 reunion hosted by the Sherman Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.

STL Archive Records

Ralph F. Radosh, 62, died December 5, 1980. God Bless this hero.