Pvt. Ralph U. Rogers

Biography and Wartime Service

Ralph Utley Rogers was born on October 16, 1925 in Camden, Tennessee to Bernice Utleythe and Roy Benny Rogers. He was drafted when he was 18 years old on march 16, 1944 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Ralph Rogers left the US on December 9, 1944. He assigned and joined Company E of the 331st Infantry, 83rd Division from the 92nd Replacement Battalion on December 31, 1944 so he entered the Battle of the Bulge on New Years Eve 1944. The Morning Report of January 13 listed Ralf Rogers as Missing In Action. Ralph was captured after a deadly patrol in the night of January 12, 1945. Until liberation by the 11th Armored Division in 1945, he was a POW for 105 days at Stalag 7A, a Work Camp at Moosburg, Bavaria. When he arrived at the hospital in France he weighed 87lbs.
Ralph said that he was an assistant ant BAR gunner. The BAR gunner was cut down by a burp gun. My number two was hit and that left me a few others surrounded with little or no ammo.

After the war Ralph Rogers married Wynell Robins (1926-2011) on April 27, 46. Ralph Utley Rogers, 98 of Camden, Tennessee passed away on March 8, 2024 at his residence. He was preceded by his wife Wynell.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Rogers at the 75th Anual Reunion of the 83rd Division Association August 2022. An absolute honor to have known him.

Gallery

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