Hq 2nd Bn/331st Earl Brandenburg grouping

T/4 Ralph D. Watkins

Technician 4th Grade
Ralph D. Watkins

Technician 4th Grade Ralph D. Watkins

Ralph Dale Watkins was born on January 21, 1922, in Franklin, Kentucky, to Iva Rodgers (1898–1978) and Arnett Lee Watkins (1895–1968).

Ralph Dale Watkins enlisted in the Army on October 13, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Ralph took some of his training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana before going to the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) and was a T/4 in the 83rd Infantry Division, 331st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq Company. G.O.#17 from December 22, 1943 listed Ralph Watkins as awarded the Good Conduct Medal. G.O.#5 from March 5, 1944 listed him as recived the Motor Vehicle Mechanics Award while at Camp Breckenridge at that moment. Morning Report of December 31, 1944 lists Ralph D. Watkins as Non Battle Casualty and transferred to unknown hospital on December 25, 1944, while in the vicinity of Soy, Belgium at that time. He assigned and joined Hq 2nd Bn/331st from 18th Reinforcement Depot as of April 9, 1945. His unit was at that time in Stadtoldendorf, Germany, just across the Weser river. He stayed with 331st for the remainder of the war. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Good Conduct Medal.

Ralph Dale Watkins married Mary Jean Beatrice Smith in 1960 when he was 38 years old. He died on September 7, 1984, in Frankfort, Kentucky. Ha was survived by his wife Mary Jean (1918–1999).