Ralph LeRoy Aggus was the second of four children born from the marriage of George LeRoy Aggus and Alma Elizabeth "Thelma" Long Aggus. He lost his father at the age of four when George was killed in a mining accident in Picher, Oklahoma. Ralph would live long enough to see his mother Thelma married three more times before her death in 1944. Ralph enlisted in the Navy on May 19, 1943, during World War II and can be found on the muster rolls for the USS Miller and the USS Saratoga as a Fireman 1st Class* (see note below). He met Eldina Maxine Jeitz - where, we do not know - but it was love at first sight. Ralph had to return to his ship, so Eldina followed him to San Francisco, California, and on August 28, 1943, they became husband and wife. Ralph was honorably discharged on January 15, 1945, and returned to Capa, South Dakota, to be with Eldina. Ralph, also known as Rusty, was working as a clerk in a store in Pierre, South Dakota, when he died in a one-car accident on November 4, 1945, twenty-three days before his son Randy was born. Eldina buried Ralph in Midland, South Dakota, and placed the marker on his grave the following year.
*The USS Miller (DD-535) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate Dorie Miller. Miller was a Texas native, born in Waco, and the first African American sailor to be awarded the Navy Cross.
*The USS Miller (DD-535) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate Dorie Miller. Miller was a Texas native, born in Waco, and the first African American sailor to be awarded the Navy Cross.
Ralph LeRoy Aggus was the second of four children born from the marriage of George LeRoy Aggus and Alma Elizabeth "Thelma" Long Aggus. He lost his father at the age of four when George was killed in a mining accident in Picher, Oklahoma. Ralph would live long enough to see his mother Thelma married three more times before her death in 1944. Ralph enlisted in the Navy on May 19, 1943, during World War II and can be found on the muster rolls for the USS Miller and the USS Saratoga as a Fireman 1st Class* (see note below). He met Eldina Maxine Jeitz - where, we do not know - but it was love at first sight. Ralph had to return to his ship, so Eldina followed him to San Francisco, California, and on August 28, 1943, they became husband and wife. Ralph was honorably discharged on January 15, 1945, and returned to Capa, South Dakota, to be with Eldina. Ralph, also known as Rusty, was working as a clerk in a store in Pierre, South Dakota, when he died in a one-car accident on November 4, 1945, twenty-three days before his son Randy was born. Eldina buried Ralph in Midland, South Dakota, and placed the marker on his grave the following year.
*The USS Miller (DD-535) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate Dorie Miller. Miller was a Texas native, born in Waco, and the first African American sailor to be awarded the Navy Cross.
*The USS Miller (DD-535) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate Dorie Miller. Miller was a Texas native, born in Waco, and the first African American sailor to be awarded the Navy Cross.
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