He registered for the WW II draft on 16 October 1940, and he was listed as employed by Archie Allison, and living at Clear View Dairy, Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was 6' 3" tall; weighed 180 pounds; had brown hair, hazel eyes and a 'light brown' complexion. His mother (Mrs. Chas. H. Curtis) is listed as living in Cherokee Park, Colorado.

On 11 April 1942 he enlisted in the service (19 079 163) from Los Angeles, California, as a private in the Air Corps. He had three years of college education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Animal and livestock farmers.".

Ralph was a member of the 437th TCG Association and was listed on their rosters from 1972 through 1982; he does not appear to have attended any of the Association's reunions.

We have him listed as participating in five 437th flights as a C-47 Pilot or Co-Pilot: Mission DETROIT on 06 June 1944; Mission ELMIRA on 06 June 1944; the movement from Ramsbury to Montalto for Operation DRAGOON in July 1944; the resupply and air evacuation Mission #49 in August of 1944 and Operation VARSITY in March 1945.