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Ralph Contreras - World War II
Ralph Contreras, the son of a Mexican-American living in Dixon, Illinois, was sixteen during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He immediately wanted to get into the Marines, but was not able to do so until 1943. His unit, the 6th Marine Division, saw action in Guam in July 1944 and in Okinawa in April 1945.
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Photos
Caption
Ralph Contreras following boot camp in San Diego late 1943.
Where:
San Diego, California
When:
late 1943
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Private Ralph Contreras in late October 1943 following boot camp.
Where:
Unknown
When:
October 1943
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Ralph Contreras and his brother Nelo Contreras (who is in dress blues he got at the photo shoot) on right, when they met up with each other near Hawaii in early 1944.
Where:
near Hawaii
When:
early 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Caption
Ralph Contreras at the end of the war. He wore corporal stripes in the photo but was still technically a PFC.
Where:
Dixon, Illinois
When:
end of the war
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Ralph Contreras at Guadalcanal before the unit shipped to Guam in June of 1944.
Where:
Guadalcanal
When:
June of 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Contreras, on right, stands next to the sign of the 1st Battalion 22nd Marines while at Guam after the land was secured.
Where:
Guam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Pvt. Evans and Ralph Contreras, the only survivors of their action at Guam, taken while they were at Guadalcanal.
Where:
Guadalcanal
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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")
Caption
Troops on the march in , Summer 1945.
Where:
Okinawa
When:
Summer 1945
Ownership:
Official Marine Photo. This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Ralph Contreras with a samurai Sword taken from a Japanese he killed outside his fox hole during combat on Okinawa.
Where:
Okinawa
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras, on right, with brother Nelo Contreras, on left, display another souvenir, a captured enemy battle flag after killing two Japanese outside his fox hole.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph and Nelo Contreras in a Jeep in the spring of 1945 on Okinawa.
Where:
Okinawa
When:
spring of 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Nelo and Ralph get their picture taken while in Okinawa.
Where:
Okinawa
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Official Marine Corps photo of combat in Okinawa.
Where:
Okinawa
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
May Lee, Ralph’s Chinese friend he met while the unit was on occupation duty in Tsingtao, China.
Where:
Tsingtao, China
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
May Lee and Ralph, taken while he was in the occupation force in Loingtoa, China on December 22, 1945.
Where:
Loingtoa, China
When:
December 22, 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Wayne Dempsey (also of Dixon) and Ralph with a Chinese friend in Tsingtao, China.
Where:
Tsingtao, China
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras’ Honorable Discharge Certificate from the Marine Corps.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Dixon Marine Corps league detachment, Installation of officers in 1957. In front: Tom Buckingham, state commandant (unknown), Neal Walker, Fred Tetrick. Top: Joe Dempsey, Russ Tetrick, Lou Jones, Ray Johnson and Ralph Contreras.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1957
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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")
Caption
Ralph Contreras in Dixon circa 1991.
Where:
Dixon, Illinois
When:
1991
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo