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Ralph Valtin
| Ralph Valtin | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Wiegelmesser |
| Born | 1925 Rolf E. Wiegelmesser in Germany |
| Died | 1 August 2018 Hamburg, Germany |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Quaker |
| Awards | Silver Star |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32979839 |
| Rank | Technician Fourth Grade |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 13 (30 October – 23 December 1943) |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Team | IPW 24 |
|
| Silver Star |
- Listed in By The Numbers/Awards (from Ritchie Boy Secrets by Beverley Driver Eddy).
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Ralph Valtin (1925–2018) was a Ritchie Boy (born Wiegelmesser; from Germany; Qu) who trained at Camp Ritchie and served with IPW Team 24.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Ralph Valtin (born Rolf Wiegelmesser; died 1 August 2018, age 93) was born in Hamburg and immigrated to the United States in 1938 because of his family's Jewish and Quaker background.
In 1942, Valtin graduated from George School (a Quaker school in Newtown, PA). Ralph attended 19__ Graduate degree in Economics from University of Pennsylvania. Brother Fred was also a graduate of Camp Ritchie (11th Class) and served as a member of IPW Team 81 attached to the 3rd Army.
He was an all-American soccer player at Swarthmore College and a member of the U.S.
He worked as a federal labor mediator and arbitrator in Philadelphia, moved to the Washington area in 1965, and opened his own arbitration practice, retiring in 2013. He 195_ - Served as arbitrator of labor disputes and as Mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. During World War II he served in the U.S.
He died at his home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- Silver Star; BS; also 2nd Lt 02015843
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 93 |
| Nara ASN | 32979839 |
| Nara Name | VALTIN RALPH |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 60743 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | NO |
| Nara Branch Code | 2 |
| Branch | No branch assignment |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 25 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 992 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 0 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 0 |
| row_source | demographics |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- Born 4 January 1925 in Rolf E. Wiegelmesser in Germany.
- 6 July 1943 — Enlisted in NYC as Pvt (ASN 32979839).
- 15 May 1944 — Assigned to IPW Team 24, 1st Infantry Division.
- 1 April 1945 — Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
- 1 April 1945 — Team 24 had Boehme, Kirchheimer and Grubb on duty with 26th Regiment.
- Awarded Silver Star; Citation reads.
- and Schneider, Valtin and Schueller on duty with 16th Regiment.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- 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)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2019-12-17 (1 post)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Ralph Valtin for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Valtin, Ralph for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ROLF VALTIN.doc)