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Joseph, Ralph H. (32011103): Difference between revisions
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RB Archive: Joseph bio from Atlanta Jewish Times; fix Ralphh title |
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|asn=32011103 | |asn=32011103 | ||
|surname=Joseph | |surname=Joseph | ||
|first= | |first=Ralph | ||
|middle=H. | |middle=H. | ||
|alias=Rudolph | |alias=Rudolph | ||
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|birth_year=1915 | |birth_year=1915 | ||
|death_year=1999 | |death_year=1999 | ||
|nativity= | |nativity=Germany | ||
|religion= | |religion=Jewish | ||
|enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK | |enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK | ||
|state=NEW YORK | |state=NEW YORK | ||
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|class_number=13 | |class_number=13 | ||
|class_display=13 | |class_display=13 | ||
|photo=Joseph_Ralph_H_32011103_wartime_portrait.png | |||
|birth_place=Würzburg, Germany | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | <div class="soldier-lead"> | ||
''' | '''Ralph H. Joseph''' (born Rudolph; 1915–1999) was a Würzburg-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie trainee ([[:Category:Class 13|Class 13]]) who served in Europe after D-Day, including the Battle of the Bulge. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Ralph H. Joseph (born Rudolph Joseph) was born in 1915 in Würzburg, Germany, into an assimilated German Jewish family. As a young man he heard Hitler speak publicly and fled to Italy; repeatedly denied a U.S. Visa despite American relatives, he lived about two years in Cuba before entering the United States at Key West with twenty dollars. Fluent in German, English, Spanish, and Italian, he joined the Army before the United States entered World War II. | |||
Joseph trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[:Category:Class 13|Class 13]] (technician fifth grade). After D-Day he served in Europe, including front-line duty and the Battle of the Bulge, work his family long knew only as “translator.” After the war he settled in Queens, New York, worked as a bookkeeper, and with his German-immigrant wife raised their son Frank; the household deliberately stopped speaking German at home. He died in 1999 at age 84. His Ritchie Boys service became widely known to the family after a 2021 ''Atlanta Jewish Times'' feature. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
<div class="soldier-gallery"> | |||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="220px"> | |||
Joseph_Ralph_H_32011103_wartime_portrait.png|Ralph H. Joseph in U.S. Army uniform (Atlanta Jewish Times / Marcia Caller Jaffe, 2021). | |||
Joseph_Ralph_H_32011103_then_now_photo.jpg|Supporting photo from Atlanta Jewish Times feature on Ralph Joseph (2021). | |||
</gallery> | |||
</div> | |||
== Technical record == | == Technical record == | ||
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| row_source || both | | row_source || both | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 1915 — Born Rudolph Joseph in Würzburg, Germany. | |||
* Flees Germany via Italy and Cuba; enters U.S. at Key West. | |||
* Joins U.S. Army; Camp Ritchie Class 13 (T/5). | |||
* 1944–1945 — Europe after D-Day; Battle of the Bulge. | |||
* Postwar — Queens, New York; bookkeeper. | |||
* 1999 — Died at age 84. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* Camp Ritchie | * [https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/physician-uncovers-true-story-of-dads-heroism/ Marcia Caller Jaffe, “Physician Uncovers True Story of Dad’s Heroism,” ''Atlanta Jewish Times'', 27 October 2021] | ||
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | |||
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | |||
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | * NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | ||
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | ||
Latest revision as of 02:23, 19 September 2026
| Ralph H. Joseph | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Rudolph |
| Born | 1915 Würzburg, Germany |
| Died | 1999 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32011103 |
| Rank | Technician Fifth Grade |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 13 (30 October – 23 December 1943) |
| Section | E (13); 5B (13) |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Ralph H. Joseph (born Rudolph; 1915–1999) was a Würzburg-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie trainee (Class 13) who served in Europe after D-Day, including the Battle of the Bulge.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Ralph H. Joseph (born Rudolph Joseph) was born in 1915 in Würzburg, Germany, into an assimilated German Jewish family. As a young man he heard Hitler speak publicly and fled to Italy; repeatedly denied a U.S. Visa despite American relatives, he lived about two years in Cuba before entering the United States at Key West with twenty dollars. Fluent in German, English, Spanish, and Italian, he joined the Army before the United States entered World War II.
Joseph trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 13 (technician fifth grade). After D-Day he served in Europe, including front-line duty and the Battle of the Bulge, work his family long knew only as “translator.” After the war he settled in Queens, New York, worked as a bookkeeper, and with his German-immigrant wife raised their son Frank; the household deliberately stopped speaking German at home. He died in 1999 at age 84. His Ritchie Boys service became widely known to the family after a 2021 Atlanta Jewish Times feature.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Ralph H. Joseph in U.S. Army uniform (Atlanta Jewish Times / Marcia Caller Jaffe, 2021). -
Supporting photo from Atlanta Jewish Times feature on Ralph Joseph (2021).
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 84 |
| Nara ASN | 32011103 |
| Nara Name | JOSEPH RALPH H |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 70341 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 0 |
| Term of enlistment | Unknown |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 15 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 330 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 68 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 146 |
| Class_ASN | 32011103 |
| Class_Name | Joseph, Rudolph H.; JOSEPH, Rudolph H. |
| match_method | pass2_asn_last |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 1915 — Born Rudolph Joseph in Würzburg, Germany.
- Flees Germany via Italy and Cuba; enters U.S. at Key West.
- Joins U.S. Army; Camp Ritchie Class 13 (T/5).
- 1944–1945 — Europe after D-Day; Battle of the Bulge.
- Postwar — Queens, New York; bookkeeper.
- 1999 — Died at age 84.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Marcia Caller Jaffe, “Physician Uncovers True Story of Dad’s Heroism,” Atlanta Jewish Times, 27 October 2021
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)