ND’s most decorated soldier of WWII was later a champion for the handicapped as a state senator

FARGO — North Dakota’s most decorated soldier of World War II also served in the state senate for 16 years. While in the senate, Elton Ringsak championed the needs, rights, and concerns of those with disabilities, the retarded, juvenile offenders, and the needy. Among his military honors are five Purple Hearts, two Distinguished Service Crosses, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the French Croix de Guerre with palm, the Italian Military Valor Cross, the Presidential Citation, the White Legion of Honor, and four European Theater Operation Medals.

Elton Woodrow Ringsak was born Nov. 18, 1915, in Grafton, to Martin and Minnie (Mattson) Ringsak. Martin, who was born in Norway, was the co-owner of Grafton’s hardware store. Elton attended public schools, and while in the elementary grades, he delivered newspapers. In high school, he lettered in football and basketball, played in the band, and participated in class plays. To have spending cash, as well as to save money for college, Elton worked as a clerk for the J.C. Penney and Red Owl stores. During the summers he helped out as a laborer on Grafton-area farms.

Grafton was a town that had a rich military heritage. Shortly after North Dakota became a state in 1889, eight National Guard units were formed, with Grafton hosting one of the units. When the Spanish-American War began on April 24, 1898, John Fraine, a Grafton lawyer, volunteered his services, and Gov. Frank Briggs named Fraine as commander of the Second Battalion of the First North Dakota Infantry Regiment. The Second Battalion was involved in some of the fiercest battles in the Philippine Islands.

In 1902, Thomas Sletteland, also from Grafton, and a soldier of the First North Dakota Infantry, became the first North Dakota resident to be the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his action and bravery in the Philippines in 1899.

When Elton Ringsak was 5-years-old, a new person moved to Grafton with his parents whom the young Ringsak likely admired. Harold Johnson was three years older than Ringsak, and in 1929, after graduating from Grafton High School, Johnson was admitted to the West Point Military Academy. After a distinguished military career, Johnson became chief of staff of the U.S. Army.

Ringsak graduated from Grafton High School in 1932 and enrolled in the University of North Dakota. At UND, Ringsak joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was involved in the Dakota Playmakers and YMCA activities. However, much of his time revolved around Reserve Officers’ Training Corps functions. He was an active member of the Scabbard and Blade honorary military organization, and the manager of the military ball in 1936. He rose to lieutenant colonel in the ROTC, and another active member of the ROTC and Scabbard and Blade at UND was John Davis, who was one year ahead of Ringsak. After serving with distinction during World War II, Davis was mayor of McClusky, governor of North Dakota, director of the Office of Civil Defense, and national commander of the American Legion.

While Ringsak attended UND during the Depression years, he worked as a busboy on campus and as a clerk at clothing stores in Grand Forks. One summer, to earn money, he even assisted with a traveling carnival. In 1935, Ruth Baker, from Bismarck, enrolled at UND, and she and Ringsak began dating.

At the graduation ceremonies held on June 8, 1937, Ringsak not only received his B.A. diploma in commerce but was also commissioned as a second lieutenant by the ROTC department. He was assigned to the 3^rd Battalion of the 3^rd Infantry Division, a reserve Army unit, and sent to Fort Lincoln, which had recently been turned over to the North Dakota National Guard. The commander of the Guard was Brig. Gen. Frayne Baker, Ruth’s father. Ruth withdrew from UND and moved back home so she could spend more time with Ringsak.

On July 1, 1938, Ringsak was assigned to the 6^th Armored Infantry, an active Army unit, and transferred to the Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri. The War Department designated the 6^th as a mechanized unit, an infantry unit equipped with armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat. Ruth Baker joined Ringsak at Jefferson Barracks, and they were married Sept. 18.

In February of 1941, Ringsak and the rest of the 6^th Armored Infantry stationed at Jefferson Barracks were sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for routine training, and on July 1, Ringsak was promoted to first lieutenant. The 6^th Infantry, which was now a part of the 1^st Armored Division, was to develop mechanized infantry tactics that would become critical if the infantry was deployed overseas. On Oct. 11, Ringsak was promoted to captain, and two months later, the U.S. became involved in World War II, following the bombing of our U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor.

Ringsak was promoted to major on Feb. 1, 1942 and, two months later, was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, to prepare for overseas deployment. On April 11, the 1^st Armored Division, which included the former 6^th Armored Infantry, left Fort Dix and arrived in Northern Ireland on May 16.

While in Northern Ireland, Ringstak conducted training camps. In his leadership capacity, Ringsak’s philosophy embodied several important principles: Communicate clearly and thoroughly; be frank with all your subordinates; if you do not know the answer to something, admit it; whenever possible, teach by example; do not order somebody to do something you would not be willing to do; and demand cooperation and cohesiveness, everybody must fulfill their roles and be willing to work with others.

It was decided that the 1^st Armored Division would be part of a massive invasion of North Africa called “Operation Torch.” Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean, planned a three-pronged attack all along the northern coast of Africa. On Nov. 8, 1942, the 1^st Armored and 6^th Armored were part of the American forces that stormed ashore at Oran harbor, in northwestern Algeria. The mission was successful as Oran was secured, but many Allied soldiers were killed and wounded.

On Nov. 16, two days before his 27^th birthday, Ringsak was promoted to lieutenant colonel, one of the youngest officers to achieve that rank in the U.S. Army. He was also named commander of the 2^nd Battalion, and he led his troops as they moved east towards Tunis, the capital and largest city in Tunisia. After achieving initial success near Tunis, the Axis (Germany, Japan, Italy, etc.) sent reinforcements that forced the Allied military out of that area, moving 150 miles southwest to the eastern foot of the Atlas Mountains, near the town of Kasserine.

After the 6^th Armored Infantry finished their tour in North Africa in the fall of 1943, they turned their focus to Sicily, located just off the toe of Italy’s boot. In North Africa, Ringsak had been wounded four times, and he received numerous awards and commendations for his leadership and courage.

(We will continue the story of Elton Ringsak next week.)