A Marine's Story: Private Ralph Ellis Dias

 


Private Ralph Ellis Dias was born on July 15, 1950, in Shelocta, Pennsylvania. He attended school at Elderton Join High School, leaving to enlist in the US Marine Corps in October of 1967, only a few short months after his 17th birthday.

He was initially assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, but in April 1969, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and deployed to Vietnam with Company D for the Vietnam War.

On November 12, 1969, Private Ralph Dias earned a Congressional Medal of Honor while on patrol with his unit in the Quang Nam Province. He and his unit were pinned down by a machine-gun bunker and Private Dias, despite being severely wounded, managed to, after three attempts, destroy the bunker with grenades.  His wounds would be fatal.  

Private Ralph Ellis Dias rests at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Leetonia, Ohio.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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Location: Shelocta, PA 15774, USA

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