Military Leader, 90 years of age. He graduated from high school in Tonawand, NY and joined the army in 1941. Remembered by the 11th Airborne Division as the leader of the parachute assault on the Los Banos Interment Camp in the Philippines on 23FEB1945 that led to the liberation of 2,147 civilians and POWs being held there.
As a lieutenant, John Ringler was given three days notice to lead his company (Co. B/511th PIR) across Laguna de Bay in 9 C-47 airplanes, jump into a small field surrounded on three sides by trees and by high-tension wires on the fourth side, destroy the Japanese guards, and organize the removal of the internees by amphtracs one half hour after his company made their jump. After less than 40 minutes, the Japanese garrison lay dead and not one of the company or the internees had even been wounded.
For his leadership in action, 1st Lt. John Ringler was awarded the Silver Star. While this action was truly remarkable in scope and execution, it was relegated to the back pages of newspapers, being out-shone by the news of the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi.
He remained in the U.S. Army after the end of World War II and served during Korea and again during the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1970 after almost 30 years of active duty. During his distinguished career, he received numerous awards including two awards of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Arrowhead and three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. He also held the Master Parachutist Badge with three Bronze Stars.
He is survived by 7 children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 4 nephews and many grand-nephews and grand-neices.
Additional information from "sticksandstones":
Residence: 679 S Niaagra St, Tonwanda, New York
Enlistment Date: 14 Sep 1940
Enlistment Location: Company F, 174th Infantry
As a lieutenant, John Ringler was given three days notice to lead his company (Co. B/511th PIR) across Laguna de Bay in 9 C-47 airplanes, jump into a small field surrounded on three sides by trees and by high-tension wires on the fourth side, destroy the Japanese guards, and organize the removal of the internees by amphtracs one half hour after his company made their jump. After less than 40 minutes, the Japanese garrison lay dead and not one of the company or the internees had even been wounded.
For his leadership in action, 1st Lt. John Ringler was awarded the Silver Star. While this action was truly remarkable in scope and execution, it was relegated to the back pages of newspapers, being out-shone by the news of the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi.
He remained in the U.S. Army after the end of World War II and served during Korea and again during the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1970 after almost 30 years of active duty. During his distinguished career, he received numerous awards including two awards of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Arrowhead and three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. He also held the Master Parachutist Badge with three Bronze Stars.
He is survived by 7 children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 4 nephews and many grand-nephews and grand-neices.
Additional information from "sticksandstones":
Residence: 679 S Niaagra St, Tonwanda, New York
Enlistment Date: 14 Sep 1940
Enlistment Location: Company F, 174th Infantry
Military Leader, 90 years of age. He graduated from high school in Tonawand, NY and joined the army in 1941. Remembered by the 11th Airborne Division as the leader of the parachute assault on the Los Banos Interment Camp in the Philippines on 23FEB1945 that led to the liberation of 2,147 civilians and POWs being held there.
As a lieutenant, John Ringler was given three days notice to lead his company (Co. B/511th PIR) across Laguna de Bay in 9 C-47 airplanes, jump into a small field surrounded on three sides by trees and by high-tension wires on the fourth side, destroy the Japanese guards, and organize the removal of the internees by amphtracs one half hour after his company made their jump. After less than 40 minutes, the Japanese garrison lay dead and not one of the company or the internees had even been wounded.
For his leadership in action, 1st Lt. John Ringler was awarded the Silver Star. While this action was truly remarkable in scope and execution, it was relegated to the back pages of newspapers, being out-shone by the news of the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi.
He remained in the U.S. Army after the end of World War II and served during Korea and again during the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1970 after almost 30 years of active duty. During his distinguished career, he received numerous awards including two awards of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Arrowhead and three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. He also held the Master Parachutist Badge with three Bronze Stars.
He is survived by 7 children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 4 nephews and many grand-nephews and grand-neices.
Additional information from "sticksandstones":
Residence: 679 S Niaagra St, Tonwanda, New York
Enlistment Date: 14 Sep 1940
Enlistment Location: Company F, 174th Infantry
As a lieutenant, John Ringler was given three days notice to lead his company (Co. B/511th PIR) across Laguna de Bay in 9 C-47 airplanes, jump into a small field surrounded on three sides by trees and by high-tension wires on the fourth side, destroy the Japanese guards, and organize the removal of the internees by amphtracs one half hour after his company made their jump. After less than 40 minutes, the Japanese garrison lay dead and not one of the company or the internees had even been wounded.
For his leadership in action, 1st Lt. John Ringler was awarded the Silver Star. While this action was truly remarkable in scope and execution, it was relegated to the back pages of newspapers, being out-shone by the news of the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi.
He remained in the U.S. Army after the end of World War II and served during Korea and again during the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1970 after almost 30 years of active duty. During his distinguished career, he received numerous awards including two awards of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Arrowhead and three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. He also held the Master Parachutist Badge with three Bronze Stars.
He is survived by 7 children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 4 nephews and many grand-nephews and grand-neices.
Additional information from "sticksandstones":
Residence: 679 S Niaagra St, Tonwanda, New York
Enlistment Date: 14 Sep 1940
Enlistment Location: Company F, 174th Infantry
Gravesite Details
Veteran U.S Army WWII Korea & Vietnam War
Silver Star & OLC, Bronze Star, Purple Heart .
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