Ralph Dias Ñ Vietnam War Ralph E. Dias was born July 15, 1950, in
Shelocta, Pa. but spent much of his young life in Leetonia before going off to fight in
the Vietnam War. He entered the Marine Corps in Pittsburgh and began his tour of duty on
April 28, 1969. With enemy fire tearing up a group of trapped Marines, Dias flung himself
against a machine gun bunker in the Que Son Mountains on Nov. 12, 1969. He charged across
open ground but was wounded by snipers. Dias, 19, sought shelter behind a rock. Again, he
exposed himself to fire, and again he was wounded. Determined to help his men, Dias
crawled 50 feet to a spot from where he could lob grenades, but none met its mark. Dias
again headed for the open, where he was shot yet once more. He tossed a last grenade. This
time, his aim was true. Dias was killed by a final round of enemy fire, but he had |
