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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

 

Harry Ladner

 

Date and Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date and Place of Death: April 18, 1945 Ie Shima, Okinawa
Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Umpire
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Military Unit: 77th Infantry Division US Army
Area Served: Pacific Theater of Operations

 

Harry B Ladner Jr was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He participated in most sports as a youngster but excelled as a hockey player.

 

Ladner graduated from the George Barr Umpire School in 1938 and was first assigned to the Arkansas-Missouri League. He subsequently worked in the Appalachian and Mountain State Leagues. He was assigned to the Piedmont League shortly before his induction into the Army in March 1942.

 

Staff Sergeant Ladner served with the 77th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater and participated in the invasions of Guam, Leyte, Philippine Islands and Okinawa.

 

Harry Ladner was killed in action on Ie Shima, off Okinawa on April 18, 1945, on the same day and close to where famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, lost his life.

 

Thanks to Davis O Barker for help with this biography.

 

Added September 19, 2006

 

Copyright © 2007 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.