Chester was born May 11, 1923 in Courtland, Kansas.
Enlistment Date: May 4, 1943
Discharge Date: April 6, 1946
Ralph (aka “Chester” or “Red”) did his training at the United States Naval Training Station (USNTS) at Camp Bennion in Farragut, Idaho, starting in June 1943. By October 1943 he was in Torpedo School at the USNTS in San Diego, California. His wartime service included deployments to New Guinea and Okinawa aboard the U.S.S. Portunus, a P.T. boat tender.
Draft Registration (front)
Draft Registration (back)
U.S.S. Portunus (AGP-4) with PT boats alongside, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/09/0904.htm]
Muster roll of the U.S.S. Portunus, August 31, 1944 showing Ralph C. Moline
