Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 from his hometown of Bloomfield, NJ. He did his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ and received his advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, LA. Ralph served with the 25th Infantry Division from September 1968 through November 1969. He received the rank of SP 5. While in Vietnam Ralph served in a helicopter support unit. Today is a retired school teacher who lives in Middletown, NJ.