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| PFC Ralph Mehring, was killed after just a few hours on the first day of the war for the 1st Infantry Division. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117390517/ralph-h_-mehring/photo https://www.16thinfantry.com/unit-history/the-landing-at-oran/ |
Ralph H. Mehring never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on June 27, 1919 in Ohio. His parents Carl and Marie were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a gas plant fire man and later as an electric company lineman. Ralph had two older brothers, three younger brothers, and one younger sister. By 1940 Ralph had completed six years of schooling and was working as an usher while living with a brother.
He was drafted into the army on March 5, 1941. He became a private first class in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
The 26th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, executed an amphibious landing at Les Andalouse near Oran, Algeria on November 8, 1942 as part of Operation Torch. They faced Vichy French forces. The 3rd Battalion came under artillery fire as it approached its objective for the day. That may be when PFC Mehring was killed. He was one of the first Americans killed in the war against Nazi Germany and her Vichy accomplices.
His grave is at Riverside Cemetery in Defiance, Ohio.
Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero and B-17 bombardier David Kingsley. You can read about David here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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