Ralph Contreras, the son of a Mexican-American living in Dixon, Illinois, was sixteen during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He immediately wanted to get into the Marines, but was not able to do so until 1943. His unit, the 6th Marine Division, saw action in Guam in July 1944 and in Okinawa in April 1945.
Photos
Caption
Ralph Contreras following boot camp in San Diego late 1943. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)Where:
San Diego When:
late 1943Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Private Ralph Contreras in late October 1943 following boot camp. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)Where:
UnknownWhen:
October 1943 Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Ralph Contreras and his brother Nelo Contreras (who is in dress blues he got at the photo shoot) on right, when they met up with each other near Hawaii in early 1944. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
near Hawaii When:
early 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras at the end of the war. He wore corporal stripes in the photo but was still technically a PFC. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)
Where:
Dixon When:
end of the warOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Ralph Contreras at Guadalcanal before the unit shipped to Guam in June of 1944. (.)Where:
GuadalcanalWhen:
June of 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Contreras, on right, stands next to the sign of the 1st Battalion 22nd Marines while at Guam after the land was secured. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
Guam When:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Pvt. Evans and Ralph Contreras, the only survivors of their action at Guam, taken while they were at Guadalcanal. (.)Where:
GuadalcanalWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Troops on the march in , Summer 1945. (Official Marine Photo. This image is considered to be in the public domain.)
Where:
OkinawaWhen:
Summer 1945Ownership:
Official Marine Photo. This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Ralph Contreras with a samurai Sword taken from a Japanese he killed outside his fox hole during combat on Okinawa. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
OkinawaWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras, on right, with brother Nelo Contreras, on left, display another souvenir, a captured enemy battle flag after killing two Japanese outside his fox hole. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph and Nelo Contreras in a Jeep in the spring of 1945 on Okinawa. (Narrator’s photo.)
Where:
OkinawaWhen:
spring of 1945Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Nelo and Ralph get their picture taken while in Okinawa.
(Narrator’s photo.)
Where:
OkinawaWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Official Marine Corps photo of combat in Okinawa. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)Where:
OkinawaWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
May Lee, Ralph’s Chinese friend he met while the unit was on occupation duty in Tsingtao, China. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
Tsingtao, ChinaWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
May Lee and Ralph, taken while he was in the occupation force in Loingtoa, China on December 22, 1945. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
Loingtoa, China When:
December 22, 1945Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Wayne Dempsey (also of Dixon) and Ralph with a Chinese friend in Tsingtao, China. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
Tsingtao, ChinaWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras’ Honorable Discharge Certificate from the Marine Corps. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Dixon Marine Corps league detachment, Installation of officers in 1957. In front: Tom Buckingham, state commandant (unknown), Neal Walker, Fred Tetrick. Top: Joe Dempsey, Russ Tetrick, Lou Jones, Ray Johnson and Ralph Contreras. (Narrator’s photo.)Where:
UnknownWhen:
Circa 1957Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ralph Contreras in Dixon circa 1991. (Narrator’s photo.)
Where:
Dixon When:
1991Ownership:
Narrator’s photo