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Ralph John lived with his parents just north of the West Virginia and Pennsylvania state line. He spend much of his leisure time visiting Morgantown and hunting in the West Virginia mountains. John joined the Army just before the United States entered the war and was in the second wave of the invasion of France, following D-Day June 6th, 1944.  Ralph John was killed in action near St Lo, France on August 15, 1944. He was 30 years old.

1. Ralph John of Mt. Morris, Greene County, PA

Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

2. Naval Fleet Displaying Searchlights at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Soldiers gather around a firing anti-aircraft gun during a defense campaign. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

3. Anti-Aircraft Gun in Action at Night, Hawaii

A group of soldiers practice firing. Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

4. Sham Battle in Hawaii during WWII American Defense Campaign

American military work with coastal artillery during a defense campaign. Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

5. Shore Battery in Hawaii

Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As  he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

6. USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia