Ralph Edgar Harbert

May 14, 1942

Flagler County has 74 men in the various branches of the armed forces at this time ..... the list up to date is as follows: RALPH EDGAR HARBERT

August 27, 1942

FLAGLER MEN IN FOREIGN - SERVICE

A number of men from Flagler county are now serving in our armed forces in foreign fields; it is believed, because several have lately notified their families that mail should be sent in care of the postmaster in New York or San Francisco.

Brady Wadsworth, Richard Tucker and Buck Durrance, Marines, present address is care postmaster. San Francisco, Clare Biddle, army flyer, is being addressed care post: master, New York City.

Others, whose foreign field is already known include: RALPH HARBERT, New Caledonia; Virden Knox, and Franklin Thompson, England.

October 1, 1942

RALPH HARBERT recently sent us a letter from New Caledonia, saying that he is getting along fine and likes the country pretty well.

November 5, 1942

RALPH HARBERT who has been in New Caledonia for several months is now on Guadalcanal, according to a letter received by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Malphurs.

February 25, 1943

RALPH HARBERT writes from Guadalcanal to his folks here saying he is "busy most of the time" but is OK. He added that "I get The Tribune pretty regularly."

April 8, 1943

RALPH HARBERT who has been with his army outfit on Guadalcanal apparently has been transferred to some other place. Recently his grandmother, Mrs. Nora Malphurs, received two separate wires from him saying: he had arrived safely "at his destination."

April 29, 1943

RALPH HARBERT who has been in the Solomon’s area for many months has moved somewhere, according to a letter written to his folks here. Ralph could not, of course, say where he is at present, but he did say he had "been to town and saw a picture show." Incidentally, his APO has been changing so fast lately it appears he is becoming an army tourist.

May 13, 1943

Last week we told you about a letter from Cpl. Edwin Hart of the Marines "in the Pacific" inviting us to "come out sometime," giving us an alluring description of "an island all to ourselves. But he'll have to do better. Just got a letter from Sgt. RALPH HARBERT who has "resided" in New Caledonia and Guadalcanal and is now "somewhere else "in the Pacific." But you judge for yourself-listen:

"We have lots of entertainment such as, playing diamond and volley ball. We see a movie about three times a week. . . The people have dances for us. We have had two in our battery. Lots of PRETTY GIRLS were there dressed up in their GRASS SKIRTS and ALL THE TRIMMINGS that go with them. I must say it is quite fascinating to anyone who has not seen it before."

Ralph, you should not tease an old vet - born thirty years too soon - it makes us skip a few beats of work on this rag. Oh, yes. Incidentally, Ralph sent his best regards to Mrs. Fuller "and to all the other people in Flagler county" and "my best wishes to all the fellows in the service." Ralph said he had received The Tribune regularly "since I have been overseas.”

July 15, 1943

RALPH HARBERT, who has been moving about over the "Pacific area," with the army, advises his grandmother, Mrs. Nora Malphurs, that he is in a hospital for medical treatment but is recovering rapidly.

August 12, 1943

RALPH HARBERT has been in a hospital “in the Pacific area” for some time, but said in a letter to his uncle, Fitzhugh Malphurs here, that he has been returned to duty.

November 4, 1943

A letter from Sgt. RALPH HARBERT, in the Pacific theater, today says "I'm feeling Okay again after a short illness. I am receiving The Tribune quite regularly now and you don't know how much I appreciate getting the news from home and hearing about the other fellows in service - my regards to all of them. There are several located In the Southwest Pacific area but I haven't had the good luck to see any of them yet." (We hope you do, and soon, Ralph)

February 17, 1944

Sgt. RALPH HARBERT writes an interesting letter home saying he has been in the Fiji Islands, but is not there now. (My, how you guys do get around)

March 23, 1944

RALPH HARBERT GETS PRAISE FOR
GOOD GUNNERY

Sgt. RALPH HARBERT, in charge of a gun crew fighting the Japs at Bougainville, received the praise of his commanding officer for good artillery work, the Associated Press reported this week.

Brig. Gen. William C. Dunckel, of Reedville, Va., artillery commander for the American division cited Harbert's gun crew in telling the Associated Press of the effectiveness of his division's artillery fire. "I've only lost four officer and six men by wounds in gun position areas. That's because our men have built such strong gun shelters," he said.

He pointed to the gun crew lead by Sgt. Harbert as typical. This crew took one hit near its gun and suffered only a dented long and earth cover.

Dunckel and others in charge of the heavy guns defending the Bougainville beachhead against furious Japanese assaults agreed that the enemy is using more artillery than ever employed in the Solomons campaign - and using it more expertly.

April 6, 1944

Sgt. RALPH HARBERT, writes to his folks here that he is now "getting The Tribune in bunches after a lapse of several weeks."

April 20. 1944

A letter this week from Sgt. RALPH HARBERT who has been in the South Pacific over two years, states that The Tribunes that he had not been receiving for about three months had finally caught up with him, and that he was receiving it regularly now. He adds that he enjoys keeping up with the other home boys and had been hoping to see some of the gang but "it seems we can never get on the same island at the same time." Ralph also said "There has been quite a lot of activity here but everything is now under control. The Japs decided to take over the island early one morning and evidently threw everything they could get together. I must say it ended in a suicidal attack for them.

I had several artillery shells to land very close to me but I am fairly fast in ‘foxhole drill.’ We are proud of the excellent cooperation from the home front that you people are giving us. Just keep the supplies and MAIL coming to us and I think it won't be too much longer. Give my regards to all the home people and the fellows in service."

September 14, 1944

It's been a long time since we have heard anything about Sgt. RALPH HARBERT who is, we believe, the first man from this county to ship out overseas. The following was received from a public relations office in his area:

"With the Americal infantry division somewhere in the Southwest Pacific: Sgt. RALPH E. HARBERT, of Bunnell, Florida, veteran of two major campaigns in the Pacific, has been with the Americal division since it was organized in New Caledonia in 1942.

Shortly after going overseas, Harbert saw action during the historic Guadalcanal battle, where his field artillery unit successfully supported a marine division. Harbert shares in a Presidential Unit Citation that was awarded his unit for that action.

Harbert earned his second battle star during the Bougainville fight, taking part in the sharp artillery duel with the Nips during March. He earned the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon with two stars and the American Defense Ribbon.

He is the grandson of Mrs. Nora Malphurs and is a graduate of Bunnell High School. He also attended the University of Florida at Gainesville. He is at present chief of a gun-howitzer crew in one of the Americal's artillery batteries.

First army division organized overseas, the Americal is the only division designated by name not by number. Its insignia is a blue Norman shield with four stars of the Southern Cross. This is appropriate because the division was organized and has done its fighting south of the equator.

The word Americal is derived from 'Americans' in 'New Caledonia.' "

February 15, 1945

And here's a letter from the first Flagler county man to go overseas and he's still over. He is Sgt. RALPH HARBERT, field artillery, army. He first started fighting way down in the Southwest Pacific and has progressed to "Somewhere in the Philippines," according at the heading on this letter. Ralph relates:

"I have been wanting to write to you for quite some time but I regret to say I have been negligent. I suppose you noticed, in the heading, that I have changed hunting grounds.

I have seen many islands in the Southwest Pacific and Far East and all of them seem alike to me. At least there is civilization here and most of the Filipinos can speak English. I don't like it here for there is too much clay and mud.

I have been getting The Tribune quite often, usually about every two months. I enjoy every word of them all for I always like to know how the old town is doing. The column concerning the boys and girls in service is always interesting. Gee, but we are one scattered bunch. Aren’t we? It is going to be a great day when we all get back home and start swapping our experiences.

In another month I will have three years over here. I don't have any idea when I might be rotated but I hope it won't be much longer.

Give my best regards to all the home folks and the fellows in service."

(Thanks, for the letter, Ralph. All of us surely hope you will be rotated soon).

July 19, 1945

A letter from S/Sgt. RALPH HARBERT in the Philippines Islands:

"I will begin with an apology for my negligence in writing.

For the past four months I have been constantly on the move here in the Philippines.

During this time I have been on four different islands, Leyte, Mindanao, Bohal and Cebu. All of them are practically the same. Two are fairly modern. Of course they have suffered from the strike of the war. A very high percentage of the Philippines speak English.

Now that I have stopped for a while at least, The Tribune has been coming quite regularly. There is no news like the hometown news.

I have great confidence of coming home before long under the point system. It will be a great day when I can see all of you people again.

Give my best regards to everyone.

July 26, 1945

S/Sgt. RALPH HARBERT has written his folks here that he is on his way home from the Pacific, where he has been since March, 1942, when he landed with the first contingent or American forces. He is a member of the Americal Division, the only one not numbered, and in charge of a gun crew in field artillery. Ralph was the first Flagler county man to go overseas in this war and has accumulated over 100 points.

August 30, 1945

S/Sgt. RALPH E. HARBERT arrived here last night after being released from active duty with the Army of the United States. He served 52 months, 41 of which were spent in the Asiatic theater. Ralph wears three battle stars and also the Presidential Unit Citation.

October 11, 1945

...... the following men perhaps well known to you - are now just plain Mister Civilian. They have been given honorable discharges from Uncle Sam’s fighting forces ..... RALPH E. HARBERT