Ralph R. Bakk
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Ralph R. Bakk
Mr. Bakk inducted into the Army January 9, 1942.
He served as a Medical Technician Fourth Grade. Transported to Birmingham, England, and to Oran, Africa in October 1942 and by boxcar to Bizerte where he helped set up a 400-bed Army General Hospital. He served through the winter there and left on a LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) for Taranto, Italy. He served with the 26th General Hospital.
He was wounded on December 2, 1943, by shrapnel during a German raid on the harbor at Bari which sank 17 ships with 1,644 casualties, including 442 deaths.
Mr. Bakk was awarded the following: Purple Heart, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and five overseas service bars.
Honorably discharged October 7, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 30.
