Ordinary Heroes: Ralph P. Gadd

American soldiers encourage their pack mules up a rocky slope during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918. The fight—America’s first major offensive of World War I—tested both courage and endurance as men and animals struggled through mud, rain, and shellfire to keep the advance moving.

November 12, 2025
By Ian Vatter

When you think of World War I Veterans from the Columbus area, there’s typically only one that comes to mind—Eddie Rickenbacker. And that’s with good reason. Rickenbacker was the most decorated U.S. flying ace of the war, but his story doesn’t give you the whole picture of Central Ohio’s involvement in the Great War.

On the eve of Veterans Day, a day which honors the end of one of the most violent wars of all time, I wanted to look into a veteran who doesn’t leave behind the same legacy. Ralph P. Gadd was a man from Lancaster, and there isn’t much information about him available prior to his military service.

The only information I could even find on his service, in fact, revealed his rank, company, regiment, and where and how long he served. The thing that stuck out to me the most about Private First Class Gadd, was just how much action he saw, compared to how little we know about him.

Mr. Gadd was a member of Company L of the 4th infantry regiment, where he served in numerous battles, including: the second Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, all of which combined for over 250,000 Entente casualties. Yet Ralph survived, and continued to serve into late April of 1919, when he was honorably discharged, and again, disappeared from the general public record.

To me Ralph Gadd is not only a reminder of how easy it is for history to forget your story, but also how easy it is for us to remember the sacrifice so many brave Ohioans made to protect their country. This Veterans Day I encourage you to celebrate the famous heroes like Eddie Rickenbacker, but to also remember that behind those immortalized heroes are thousands of somewhat forgotten soldiers.

These ordinary men and women answered the call to serve their country, and they are worthy of the same honor and remembrance as the heroes that earn a place in the history books. This Veteran’s Day, if you’d like to learn more about some of these soldiers and their stories, the Ohio History Connection has some incredible resources.