PVT Ronald Alfred Peper

courtesy of Frogman

PVT Ronald Alfred Peper was born 24 Jan 1924 in Alta, Iowa. He was the 2nd of the 3 children born to Alfred and Lola Eva (Hannen) Peper. His father worked as a salesman in a department store. In 1940 the family lived with his maternal grandfather in his home on Johnson Street in Alta which was valued at $4000. Alfred reported a 1939 income of $1040. Ronald's older brother Lynn was working as a clerk for a Civilian Conservation Corps drainage project and reported a 1939 income of $238 for 52-weeks of work.

Ronald had completed 3-years of high school and was working as a driver when he was drafted in September 1943. After his basic military training, PVT Peper left for Europe on 4 Apr 1944. He was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry on 20 Jun 1944 where he served as a vehicle driver. PVT Peper was killed in action on 12 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, France.

PVT Peper was ultimately buried and rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Ronald's brother, Lynn Francis Peper, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps after being drafted in June 1944, likely because of his work experience with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.