"History is one of the most important topics that
can be studied
because as it repeats, history will help foretell the future." MiloBack to MyHistory |
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| Mel Ranalli |
| Technician Fifth Grade - Army |
Assigned: 278 Combat Engineers
Highest Rank: Technician Fifth Grade
Location of Service: Europe
Gender: male
Basic Training: Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas
Military Position: Heavy Equipment
Current City: Columbus
Current State: Ohio
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Awards and Citations
- World War II Victory Medal
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| Honored by Bitts
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Mel was drafted into the Army when he was 18 with six months left of school. |
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Went to Camp Robison for basic training then went conducted maneuvers through Alabama, Louisiana and Texas for six months. Got to go home for 2 weeks before shipping out at Staten Island, New York to East Liverpool, England. Was in England for about a month before going to Le Harve, France. From Le Harve went to Nece, Belgium which was about 30 miles from the Battle of the Bulge. |
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Went through Frankfurt and Munich, Germany. Mel group was not attached to one outfit wherever they needed him is where he went. Mel often drove a jeep and carried a M-1 Carbine. The jeep was a great vehicle that could go through everything. |
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Mel was a Combat Engineer building bridges and roads. They had bulldozers, trucks and cranes. |
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“Buzz” bombs were shot at them every night and the distinct sound of them is a memory that Mel will never forget. |
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Came home to the states. |
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