Ralston A. Shepherd

  • ASN:
    33212666
  • DATE OF BIRTH
    May 17, 1921
  • DATE OF DEATH
    July 12, 1997
FULL NAME:

Ralston A. Shepherd

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):

33212666

  • DATE OF BIRTH: May 17, 1921
  • DATE OF DEATH: July 12, 1997
RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):

Roanoke, Roanoke County, Virginia

DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
  • DATE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Sept 29, 1942
  • PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Camp Lee, Virginia
ORGANIZATION:
  • MAIN UNIT:
    23rd Infantry Regiment
  • SUBUNIT:
    Company C, 1st Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
  • RANK:
    Private First Class (Pfc.)
  • POSITION IN UNIT:
    Automatic Rifleman
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:

✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944)

DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):

🎖Silver Star Medal

SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:

"In the fight for St. Georges d'Elle, Pfc Ralston A. Shepherd, 23rd Inf., saved three companies from mass slaughter. Cornered in an area 30 by 100 yards, with hedgerows skirting both sides, the companies lay in direct line Of fire from a flak gun. Shepherd placed his BAR over a gate post and fired more than 1000 rounds, dispersing the Nazis gun crew before it had the opportunity to go into action. The companies took advantage of the precious time, reorganized and fought their way out of the trap. For his action, Shepherd was awarded the Silver Star," Booklet From D+1 to 105 - The Story of the 2nd Infantry Division, pg. 8.

STATUS:
  • CATEGORY:
    Wounded In Action (WIA)
  • DATE:
    June 19, 1944
  • LOCATION:
    Near Saint-Georges-d'Elle, Normandy, France
  • NOTES:
    First Location: Cranium, Face and Neck (excl. vertebral): Maxilla, superior, generally Second Location: Shoulder Third Diagnosis: Peripheral nerves, disease of, other and unspecified; CausativeAgent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified
HONORED BY:

Shepherd Family

NARA - Display Full Records

File Unit: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
in the Series: World War II Army Enlistment Records, created 6/1/2002 - 9/30/2002, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946. - Record Group 64 (info)

Brief Scope: This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

Source: aad.archives.gov/aad/
SOLDIER RECORD:
Full Name
Ralston A Shepherd
Army Serial Number
33212666
Enlistment Place
Roanoke Virginia
Enlistment Date
15 Sep 1942
Army Branch
Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch
Army
Race or Ethnicity
White
Residence
PrinceGeorge County, Virginia
Enlistment Term
Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Source of Army Personnel
Civil Life
Army Component
Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Level of Education
4 years of high school
Occupation
Unskilled machine shop and related occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status
Separated, with dependents
Birth Date
1920
Birth Place
Virginia
Source Box Number
0627
Source Film Reel Number
1.144
Conflict Period
World War II
Served for
United States of America

NOTICE
THE STORY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS SOLDIER
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