Ralph Contreras - World War II

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

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

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

Caption
Ralph Contreras in Dixon circa 1991.

Where:
Dixon, Illinois

When:
1991

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo