Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
MEDAL FRONT
The WWII Army Rangers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on June 7, 2022.
OKLAHOMA RANGER
CPT George Miller, Kenefic, OK
was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2020.
MEDAL BACK
The Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame is inducting 71 Oklahoma WWII Army Rangers as a group.
See left: The 71 WWII Oklahoma Rangers (including T/SGT Victor Henry Fast Company E, 5th Ranger Battalion from Corn, OK), will be inducted as a group into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2024.
Seven Battalions of Rangers fought in World War II, some 6,947 men, all volunteers. We know of only 11 of these men who are still living as of May 29, 2024. Rangers spearheaded every invasion in the North African and European theaters, and in the Pacific the 6th Ranger Battalion performed one of the bravest rescues of the war many miles behind enemy lines at Cabanatuan to save 516 POW’s from certain execution by the Japanese.
Throughout World War II, Rangers Led the Way!
We have identified 71 Oklahomans who served as Army Rangers in WWII. All are deceased. Oklahomans Dixon, Malone and Wolf participated in the Cabanatuan Raid. Oklahomans Adkins, Anderson and Miller were documented to have particpated in the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.
These men will be inducted as a group into our Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame on October 26, 2024.
We want to find as many relatives as possible to help us memorialize their Ranger. The list of our 72 Rangers is below. If you can help us, please send us an email at info@okmhf.org.
Legend:
3RgrC CO - C Company, Third Ranger Battalion
POW - Prisoner of War
KIA - Killed in Action
ASN - Army Serial Number
DNB - Died Non Battle
FSSF - First Special Service Force
Cabanatuan Raid - documented participant in the action
A-B-C
SGT Lee R Adams (DNB)
ASN 36291900 3RgrC CO
DNB 1 Jan 1944 Lucrino, Italy
Ardmore, OK
PFC Sammie Adkins (KIA)
ASN 38322691 2RgrC
KIA on D-Day 6 June 1944
Point De La Percee, FR
Purple Heart
Hulbert, OK
S/SGT Christopher M Anderson
ASN 38127535 2RgrE
At Point Du Hoc 6 June 1944
Purple Heart
Perry, OK
PFC Eula C Ballard (MIA)
ASN 38467585 5RgrHQ CO
At Brest, France 9 Sept 1944
Tulsa, OK
T/5 Thomas Bearpaw (POW)
Native American (Cherokee)
ASN 38273760 3RgrA
Tahlequah, OK
SSGT Rement W Brakhage
ASN 38129377 5RgrE
Bronze Star
South Coffeyville, OK
PFC Delbert E Brown
ASN 38272730 1RgrB FSSF
Ardmore, OK
SGT Marion J Callaway (POW)
ASN 38274148 3RgrF
Lawton, OK
2 LT William K Carr
ASN 1112607 4Rgr FSSF HQ 1Regt
Tulsa, OK
PVT Alfonso J Cruz (POW)
ASN 38270310 1RgrE Stalag 38
SGT Robert Lyle Cunningham (POW)
ASN 38273718 3RgrF
Durham, OK
D-E-F
PFC Aubrey “Blacky “Daniels (POW)
ASN 38273760 1RgrA, 3RgrF
Leedey, OK
PVT Milton D Dewbre
ASN 38395802 3Rgr C CO FSSF
Ryan, OK
CPT John J Ditmars
ASN 1171519 6RgrC
August 5, 1917 - March 18, 2008
Oklahoma City, OK
Daughter, Diane Ditmars Culbertson, Edmond, OK (5/27/24)
Son, John J. Ditmars Jr.; Son, Richard C. Ditmars
Grandson, John J. Ditmars III
PVT Billy Junior Davis (KIA)
ASN 18194297 1RgrE
KIA 7/10/1943 Gela, Sicily
Pauls Valley, OK
LT James K Davis
ASN O-1015929 4RgrC /FSSF 3-1
9 June 1912 – 9 Aug 2000 Buried in WA
Hobart, OK
PFC Virgil Sherman Dixon
ASN 38079621 6RgrC
8 May 1915-23 Sept 1999
Checotah, OK
*Cabanatuan Raid
T/SGT Victor Henry Fast
5/E Rgr
4 June 1923-8 June 2008
Corn, OK
CPL Avery J Ford (POW)
ASN 38015502 3RgrC
Buffalo, OK
Daughter, Enid, OK
PVT William Q Foster
ASN 38319486 4Rgr
6/21/1921 – 1/29/1993
Broken Arrow, OK
T/Sgt Ralph C Franks
ASN 38022908 6RgrD
11/24/1916 - 6/19/1998
Cleveland, OK
G-H-I
PFC Ivan J Gannon
ASN 38015433 1RgrE, 4Rgr B
Alva, OK
PFC Wayne D Goad (KIA)
ASN 38403468 2RgrC
KIA D-Day 6/6/1944
Point de la Percee, FR
Mangum, OK
PVT James Greenfeather
ASN 38319915 1RgrF 4RgrD
Native American Eastern Shawnee Chief
Quapaw, OK
SSGT Harold W Hankins (POW)
ASN 20837701 1RgrF Stalag 3B
PFC Robert P Hinman, Jr
ASN 16035747 2RgrE
11/11/1923 – 07/22/2011
Grove, OK
PVT Alexander E Hutton Jr
ASN 31418795 6RgrE
8/20/26 – 2/2/2024
Moore, OK
J-K-L
TSGT Theodore A James
ASN: 06938331 2RgrA
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart
Born Jenks, OK 05/16/21-02/4/75
Buried Dennard, AR
PVT Jack W Johnson (KIA)
ASN 18194661 1Rgr
KIA 10 July 1943 Gela, Sicily
Stillwater, OK
PFC Lester W Johnson
ASN 16035747 2RgrE
North Miami, OK
CPL Presley D Johnson (KIA)
ASN 18124937 3RgrE
Born Fort Townsen, OK 8/6/1922
KIA 31 January 1944 Cisterna, Italy
Hugo, OK
PVT Calvin Dodd Kight
ASN 18016421 1RgrE/4RgrA
2/5/1922 – 9/20/1998
Yukon, OK
PFC Johnny Kiser
ASN 18081373 3RgrC, FSSF HQ Det 2B 3Reg
Valiant, OK
PVT Lloyd E Kittley (POW)
ASN 38062075 3RgrC
Marshall, OK
PVT Nabih G Kotite, C Co
ASN 10600840 29th Prov Rgr
1915 - 12/11/1960 FL L Co 175th
PFC Odis Lester Lawhon 5/E Rgr
23 Sept. 1925-31 Jan. 1991
Wright City, OK
PFC Joseph E Long (POW)
ASN 18097141 3RgrE Stalag 3B
M-N-O
PFC Walter R McNichols
ASN 39710737 2RgrHQ
Broken Arrow, OK
SSG Lester Leroy Malone
ASN 38023241 6RgrC
11/2/1919 - 4/10/2016
Choctaw, OK
*Cabanatuan Raid
Ray H Mason (KIA)
ASN 38691360 2Rgr
KIA 7 Dec 1944
Pryor, OK
PFC Kenneth F Masters
ASN 38700806 5RgrD
Tulsa, OK
CPT George R Miller
5RgrD, 26 Inf Div 104th Inf,
Transfer 11Sep43 to 5th Ranger Bn
Omaha Beach June 6, 1944
Silver Star, Inductee OKMHF 2020
Kenefic, OK
Son, Chuck Miller, Windsor, CO (5/30/24)
SSGT George W Monks
ASN 39129167 5RgrF
Yukon, OK
CPT Paul B Mueggenberg
ASN 38023062 6RgrHQ
Stillwater, OK
PFC Jesse M Niblach (KIA)
ASN 18051884 5RgrD
KIA 25 Feb 1945 Irsch-Zerf Campaign
Osage County, OK
P-Q-R
PFC Roy B Peters
ASN 38023520 6RgrC
Oklahoma City, OK
PVT Roy C. Pilgrim (POW)
ASN 36953498 1RgrHq
Tulsa, OK
CPL Clyde E Ray (POW)
ASN 38319586 3RgrD
Wetumka, OK
T/5 Buford Louis Riddle (1/16 Osage)
ASN 18015009 2RgrHQ
11 May 1920-24 Feb 1992
Avant, Oklahoma
CPL James C Ritchey
ASN 18194221 1RgrB
Transferred out after Anzio
Coyle, OK
PFC Walter W Roach (KIA)
ASN 38321488 29th Prov Rgr I/B Co 116th
1922 -KIA 6/6/1944
SGT Orvil R Roberts
ASN 06584755 6RgrD
4/8/1918 - 8/24/2004
Elk City, OK
CPL Cloyd Robison (POW)
ASN 18162651 1RgrF
POW Jan 1944 – May 1945
1/2/1915 – 10/14/1998
Tulsa. OK
S-T-U
SGT Guy L Sewell
Native American (Choctaw)
ASN 38018403 1RgrF, 4RgrE
Ardmore, OK
T/SGT Jack L Sharp
ASN 38063530 5RgrHQ
11/19/1915- 11/13/1975
Lawton, OK
PVT Thomas NMI Skelton
ASN: 18128664 29th Prov Rgr
1922 - 7/21/1975 CA E Co 175th
T/5 Karl E Smith
ASN 18129756 3RgrE, FSSF 5-2
Earlsboro, OK
PFC Conrad J Solf
ASN 38182819 6RgrC
11/6/1921 - 10/11/2001
Carmen (Alfalfa County), OK
*Cabanatuan Raid
CPL Hollis Dorion Stabler
Rangers called him “Chief”
Native American (Omaha)
ASN 6934103 4RgrHQ FSSF 6-1
Lawton, OK
CPL Lewis A. Strange (KIA)
ASN 38018340 1RgrF, 4RgrE
KIA 4 Nov 1943 Venafro, Italy
Fletcher, OK
CPT Leonard Summers JR
ASN 0527866 5RgrD
8/19/22 - 12/2/1994
Dougherty, OK
CPL Benjamin Franklin Swindle
ASN 20825552 1RgrA, 3RgrF, 4Rgr
Washington, OK
1st SGT Dee Thomas
ASN 38087150 6Rgr
01/06/14 – 03/17/1990
Talihina, Oklahoma
PFC Jack D Troutt (KIA)
ASN 39727332 2RgrD
KIA 12/7/44 Bergstein, Germany
Blanchard, OK
General Lucian K. Truscott
Distinguished Service Cross in WWII
Led the creation of the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1942.
1994 Ranger Hall of Fame - Honorary Induction.
Born in Texas, 1895, and taught school in OK before joining the Army in 1917.
Stella (Norman area), OK
U-V-W
T/5 Charles Walters
ASN 18085493 1RgrHQ, Original, 4Rgr
Enid, OK
PVT Russell K Weatherford
ASN: 10600929 29th Prov Rgr
1918- 2/9/20001 AZ Unit
SGT Virgil E Webster
ASN 38023413 6RgrD
Vinita, OK
CPL Robert Wesley Winkcompleck
ASN 38018953 1RgrF 4RgrF FSSF 6-2
Kendrick, OK
SSGT Floyd T Wilemon
ASN 18086200 6RgrE
Wister, OK
PFC J D Williams
ASN 38694748 2RgrC 1st Platoon
Bronze Star and CIB
Leflore County, OK
Cabanatuan Raid
*Oklahoman from Atoka, 1Lt Tom Rounsaville, an Alamo Scout, also participated in the rescue of 511 POWs in the Cabanatuan Raid. Total of 4 Oklahomans were in the 137-soldier Ranger/Alamo Scout rescue raid 25 miles behind enemy lines.
2024 MARKS OUR SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF HONORING VETERANS
Copyright © 2024 Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation,a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
Postal address is OKMHF, PO Box 30658, Edmond, OK 73003. General email is info@okmhf.org
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder