Ralph N. Astin

NAME: Ralph N. Astin

ASN: 14067569

PLACE OF BIRTH: Bibb County, GA

DATE OF BIRTH: 11 Jul 1920

DATES OF SERVICE: 19 Feb 1942 - ?? ??? 1945

UNIT ASSIGNED: Demo Plt, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR

CAMPAIGNS: Tunisia

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with combat jump star, Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with campaign star, WWII Victory Medal

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

19 Feb 1942 - Enlisted at Fort Benning, GA - NARA Enlistment Record

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	14067569	14067569
NAME	ASTIN#RALPH#N###########	ASTIN#RALPH#N###########
RESIDENCE: STATE	43	GEORGIA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	021	BIBB
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	4341	FT BENNING GEORGIA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	19	19
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	02	02
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	42	42
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	PVT#	Private
GRADE: CODE	8	Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	BI#	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE	00	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	5	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
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	0	Civil Life
NATIVITY	43	GEORGIA
YEAR OF BIRTH	20	20
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	5	1 year of college
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	002	Actors and actresses
MARITAL STATUS	6	Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	6	Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0153	0153
FILM REEL NUMBER	2.10#	2.10#

Joins the 509th in England as a replacement and is part of the rear detachment that travels by ship and rail to rejoin the 509th in North Africa

26 Dec 1942 - Pvt. Ralph N. Astin ASN: 14067569 Assigned to Demo Plt. 2nd Bn 509th PIR participates in the Airborne operation to destroy the El Djem Bridge in Tunisia

They decided to break into 2- man teams in order to escape and evade. Most of the 2 man teams were captured and sent to POW camps in Germany where they spent the remainder of the war. Ralph stated that it was just 'dumb luck' that he was sent to a POW camp in Northern Italy.

28 Dec 1942 - Pvt. Ralph N. Astin ASN: 14067569 Assigned to Demo Plt. 2nd Bn 509th PIR is captured by the Germany sent to CC 59 Ascoli Picenzo, Italy 43-13

SERIAL NUMBER	14067569	14067569
NAME	ASTIN RALPH N	ASTIN RALPH N
GRADE, ALPHA	PVT	Private
GRADE CODE	8	Cadet, USMA or Chief Warrant Officer or Private or Apprentice, Seaman
SERVICE CODE	1	ARMY
ARM OR SERVICE	INF	Infantry
ARM OR SERVICE CODE	10	INF: INFANTRY
DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)
DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)
DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)
RACIAL GROUP CODE	1	WHITE
STATE OF RESIDENCE	M3	Undefined Code
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION	787	Parachute Infantry
PARENT UNIT NUMBER	0502	0502
PARENT UNIT TYPE	06	Group/Regiment/Commands/System
AREA	90	North African Theatre
LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)	28	28
LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)	11	11
LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)	5	1945
SOURCE OF REPORT	1	Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
STATUS	8	Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
DETAINING POWER	1	GERMANY
CAMP	903	CC 59 Ascoli Picenzo Italy 43-13
REP
POW TRANSPORT SHIPS

He stated that he was moved to a POW camp in Northern Italy where he was held for several months. He said that he realized fairly quickly that the security at that camp was less than what he would encounter if sent to Germany, so he escaped from the prison and spent approximately 3 months walking south across Italy, traveling from safe house to safe house with the underground resistance. "I was just a dumb 20 year old kid.... I didn't know you couldn't escape from a POW camp and walk south across Italy."

Ralph spent 3 months traveling south across Italy back to Allied forces. He stated that he travelled from safe-house to safe-house, being moved by resistance fighters. (Not sure how he actually initially linked-up with these resistance fighters?) He said that he put on civilian clothes, knowing that he would be executed as a spy by the Gestapho if captured. He said that he would stay days to weeks at each safe-house, helping to work in their fields and vineyards. He also stated that he traveled with multiple different Allied escapees during this 3 month journey. Ralph stated that when making the final cross into Allied lines, it was with a British pilot. He stated that the resistance guides told them where to go and that it was at a British sector. He said they got caught in an artillery barrage and Ralph was convinced that the only reason he was alive is that the British pilot had been an Artillery Officer prior to flight school. He stated that the British pilot knew the pattern of artillery and directed how they moved. Ralph and the British pilot were able to successfully cross into the British sector and he was eventually repatriated to American forces.

Ralph said that he wanted to return to the 509th but since he had been transported by resistance fighters, he was removed from the theatre and sent to Ft Benning as an Airborne Instructor. At some point, he received orders for the Pacific theatre and was assigned to an Airborne Unit in the Pacific. There he said they were training for "The Big Jump" into Japan when the war ended.

After being repatriated, he was assigned to Ft Benning as an instructor at the Airborne School. At some point, he received orders to the Pacific and was preparing for what he called "The Big Jump" into Japan when the war ended in August 1945.

Married Bettye

Sold real estate vicinity Rossville, GA

11 Feb 1997 - Passed away and is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery

2002 - Wife Bettye passed away

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