Ralph Cowin served as an NCO in battery "B" 880th Field Artillery Battalion of the 69th Infantry Division. His unit saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and also supporting the initial assault on the German Siegfried Line. His section used the 105mm howitzer, classified as light artillery.

Ralph originally thought about joining the navy like his brother. However, his brother's experiences as a sailor who survived the 1942 sinking of the USS Gregory (DD-82/APD-3) at Guadalcanal convinced Ralph to join the army instead. He volunteered for the field artillery over the infantry and also to avoid flying because the Air Corps which was recruiting heavily at the time.

Ralph says the experience in Europe during the war made him determined never to do three things again: go hungry, be cold, or sleep on the ground.

Ralph's sister Dorothy was married to my great uncle James T. Ellis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Ralph D Cowin