Memorial

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Sgt Ralph F. Greeley worked on a farm before he joined the National Guard in North Platte, Nebraska on 23 December 1940. He had been overseas since May and in France since July 1944.

He was wounded on 19 September 1944 by artillery shell fragments and died of his wounds on 26 September 1944.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation cited: Sgt Greeley, a heavy machine gun section sergeant in D Company grabbed a heavy machine gun which was mounted on a tripod, the number 1 and 2 gunners having been wounded, and disregarding his own safety, he pulled it forward 25 yards and from this startegic position put the gun into action himself, spraying the enemy tanks in the vicinity around him. The effectiveness of this fire caused the tanks to button up the turrets thereby completely eliminating enemy observation of our forces from the tanks. I saw Sgt Greeley continue firing from his position until the attacking forces had the opportunity to withdraw to a safer position. The enemy tanks were still firing but no longer effectively, due to their buttoned condition. Then one shell lit about 5 yards from Sgt Greeley wounding him and knocking out his machine gun. He could not be reached until late that night under cover of darkness. He was then evacuated but died of wounds received a few days later. His supreme sacrifice was undoubtedly responsible for the saving of many of his comrades.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Andilly, France.