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Personal info

Full name
NEWKIRK, Ralph Robert
Date of birth
13 January 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas
Hometown
Morrilton, Conway County, Arkansas

Military service

Service number
38450021
Rank
Technician Fourth Grade
Function
Medical Aidman
Unit
Medical Detachment,
347th Infantry Regiment,
87th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
15 December 1944
Place of death
Petit-Réderching, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 19 8

Immediate family

Members
DeForest Newkirk (father)
Gladys M. (Burch) Newkirk (mother)
Pearl E. Newkirk (sister)
Roberta L. (Scarlett) Newkirk (wife)

More information

T/4 Ralph R. Newkirk attended Morrilton High School, where he was a star athlete. After graduation, he attended the University of Arkansas and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity before he enlisted on 7 February 1943. He received his basic training at Camp McCain, Mississippi, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He then went to O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri to receive training as a medical technician. On 12 October 1944 T/4 Newkirk was sent to the European Theater of Operations and was stationed in England. On 1 December 1944, the 87th Division was deployed from England and landed in France.

He was first buried at the Temporay American Military Cemetery in Limey, France.

He is remembered at the Elmwood Cemetery in Morrilton, Conway County, Arkansas.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Keith O'Brien (Cousin), www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Kolbo Newkirk Family Tree, https://militaryroster.wordpress.com/2019/02/21/ralph-robert-newkirk/#more-2569, http://87thinfantrydivision.com, www.findagrave.com – Rick Lawrence / Beckie Carter Williams
Photo source: Keith O'Brien (cousin), www.findagrave.com - Rick Lawrence / Beckie Carter Williams