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Ralph Elmer Taylor was born on July 31, 1924, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Charlotte M. Watherne, age 35, and Ralph E Taylor, age 31. He had three sisters Alice, Charlotte and Muriel and two brothers John and Ernest.
In Rye his family lived at 31 Grapal Street. Ralph was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1942.
He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Ralph served in the US Army's 10th Mountain Division in Italy during WWII.
Originally activated as the 10th Light Division (Alpine) in 1943, the division was predesignated the 10th Mountain Division in 1944 and fought in the mountains of Italy in some of the roughest terrain in World War II.
Rye Men in Mountain Division Making War History in Italy
"The men of the 10th Mountain Division had undergone a rigorous, specialized training program before going overseas. The curriculum of the mountain infantry is to dig into a snow bank and wait; take long marches through a cutting wind at a temperature well below zero; eat, sleep, work and live in the bitterness of the cold and wet.
 They have to be mule packers, rock climbers and mountaineers in general, because the caissons dont go rolling along in the mountains. All the way, along broken trails cr through soft, knee-deep snow, artillery equipment has to be handlugged or mule-packed. The snow training is not restricted to the infantry and artillery, but is equally a vital part of the training of the Medics, the Signal Corps and the Engineers.
A release from the Army was broadcast over Station WABC on Sunday morning revealing the activities of the Division, which had been cloaked in secrecy until that time. It stated, This morning the American troops that have been operating on Mount Belvedere have been publicly named the 10th Mountain Division. This is the unit of soldiers for mountain fighting that trained for so long at Camp Hale in the Rocky Mountains near Denver.
The first element went into the line in the Appennine Mountains on January 9 1945 and all the Division was committed before the end of the month. For several weeks, they showed their stuff in long range patrolling deep into the enemy lines, some of them getting a chance to use their -skiis, but if the public has visions of thousands of white-clad figures racing downhill with tommy guns rattling, they will be disillusioned. Most of the snow has gone and the most characteristic performance by these boys is taking loads that would break lesser mens backs, going up steep trails where even the mules refuse to go."
PAGE EIGHT THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, March 2, 1945
He married Joan Pittman on February 26, 1960, in his hometown. They had two children during their marriage.
After his military service, he worked in banking. He married Joan Pittman on February 26, 1960, in his hometown. hey had two children during their marriage. Ralph then worked as a salesman for Halstead-Quinn in Mount Kisco until his retirement.
During retirement, he drove a school bus for Bedford Central for several years. Ralph remained active for many more years and could be found most mornings walking at Leonard Park.
Ralph passed away peacefully at home with his family late Wednesday August 21, 2013.
At the time of his death he was survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan, daughters Andrea (Rita) and Bethany (Michael), and grandchildren, Hayden, Deegan, Braden and Shanna, who he referred to as Sugar Plum. Additionally, he is survived by sisters Charlotte of Hillsdale NY and Muriel of Wayne NJ along with many nieces and nephews.
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