UDTs Blowers, Ralph Athol

SEAL Warrior
By Thomas H. Keith, J. Terry Riebling

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Blowers
  • FORENAME
Ralph Athol
  • UNIT
U.S.N.R. UDT-3
  • RANK
Chief Carpenter
  • NUMBER
262538
  • DATE OF DEATH
15th July 1944
  • AGE
31
  • GRAVESITE
National Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii Tablets of the Missing
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Endicott, New York
born 21.04.1913, Herrick, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA
father Ralph M. Blowers
mother Flora M. (nee Benjamin) Blowers, R.D. 4, Towanda, Pennsylvania
married Elva May Blowers
award Silver Star
KIA Guam
buried at sea
 

DATE OF DEATH:

15-Jul-1944

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/blowers-ralph-athol.58601/

CITATION:

Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Chief Carpenter's Mate Ralph Athol Blowers (NSN: 262538), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of an Underwater Demolitions Team in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Guam from 17 July to 21 July 1944. In the face of heavy and persistent enemy rifle, mortar and machine gun fire, Chief Blowers courageously swam close inshore to direct the hazardous operations of destroying underwater obstacles and to make a thorough survey of the reefs, thereby rendering invaluable assistance in facilitating the landing of assault troops , before he was killed by hostile fire. His courage and conduct throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/307295

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56115697/ralph-athol-blowers
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Frogmen of World War 2
By Chet Cunningham
Ralph Athol Blowers

The following story comes from the book, The U.S. Frogmen of World War II. The book is written by Wyatt Blassingame and published in 1964 by Random House. The following story comes from page 76, "...a landing craft had just picked up John Parrish of Team 3 and was maneuvering to recover a warrant officer named Blowers, when it stuck on a coral head. Blowers continued swimming and reached the boat. But as Parrish leaned over to help him aboard, a single sniper bullet struck the warrant officer in the head, killing him immediately. An instant later, while Parrish was struggling to pull the body of his friend aboard, Japanese artillery opened fire. As shells burst all around the landing craft, the men aboard worked furiously to free the boat. Another landing craft, moving in to help, also grounded. Then a mortar shell crashed close alongside, wounding several frogmen and members of the boats crews. Finally one of the boats got free. All the men piled into it, taking their dead and wounded comrades with them. They left the other craft stuck on the reef."
 
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