GET CAUGHT UP:The first significant offensive action taken by the U.S. military in World War II occurred in North Africa. The commander of the 2nd Battalion within the 6th Armored Infantry was Lt. Col. Elton Ringsak from Grafton, North Dakota. He was then given orders on three occasions to directly engage German armored divisions. A memorial stone at Veteran's Park in Grand Forks honors Elton W. Ringsak, North Dakota's most highly decorated World War II veteran and one of the nation's more highly decorated in that war. I believe Ringsak is the only soldier to have received this award for military action on two different continents.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 04, 2023 19:02 UTC