Richie Ashburn, Tilden, entered the Army on October 16, 1945 and received training at Fort Ord and Camp Roberts, California.  He left the States on June 4,1946, for assignment in Alaska.  He returned to the states on March 20, 1947.  He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal.  Richie was discharged on April 14, 1947.  After his discharge he played minor league baseball for two years before he reached the major leagues, where he played for the Philadelphia Phillies.