Ralph Tomei was born on May 3rd, 1920 in Wahiawa, Hawai’i. He enlisted into the Army on August 2nd, 1942 at Schofield Barracks, Hawai’i, and was initially placed into the 1399th Labor Battalion until he was sent to Camp Shelby upon the formation of the 442nd RCT. He was assigned to Company M as a Heavy Machine Gun section leader and fought in the Rome to Arno & Po Valley Campaigns in Italy, and the Liberation of Bruyeres & Rescue of the Lost Battalion in France.
After the war, he worked as a refrigerator mechanic for Heide & Cook until his retirement. He passed away on July 21st, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Alice; sons, Collins (Connie) and Dale (Linda); daughter, Joy (Paul) Sugiyama; and by four grand- children and four great-grand- children. He was pre-deceased by daughter, June Morimatsu.
