Thomas Edward Ramsey – Captain, United States Army

Courtesy of his classmates, Untied States Milirary Academy:

Thomas Edward Ramsey
No. 13326  •  18 July 1919 – 22 May 1957
Died in Washington, DC, aged 37 years
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

Thomas Edward Ramsey, known to all as “Doo,” appeared at first as an unlikely cadet. As our Howitzer put it, straight from the wilds of Texas to the bewildering East came “Emma’s chile.” The complications of the old squad drill were mastered after conscientious application, and after that nothing bothered Doo very much. With his smile and sense of humor, he had a host of friends. Those of us in Camp Illumination and in the 100th Night Show remember him from his careful backstage work. He became a staff sergeant in the new C-2 Company and selected Coast Artillery-Anti
Aircraft as his branch, as did his roommate once he returned from a try at air training.

Then came the mosquitoes at Camp Davis and commissioned service. After so long the details of units have vanished, but service in Hawaii led to Doo meeting and marrying Gayle, the pretty school teacher (at Punahou) from South Dakota. Four children followed: a girl, a boy, and twin girls.

Toward the end of the Korean War, Doo was in Group Headquarters in Japan while his roommate was in one of the battalions in Korea. The Far East was followed by ROTC duty in Michigan. It was here that illness struck. Movement to Walter Reed revealed inoperable cancer, and it was here that he slipped from us.

Doo’s life is typical of so many entries in our list of graduates — strong and steady dedication to service, country, and family. It is the record of thousands like Doo that our safety is built — not just the flashes of fame that come to only a few.

Doo’s widow moved back to South Dakota, and there she eventually remarried. He also is survived by his daughter Tish; by his son Bill, who is now a dentist; and by Mary and Elaine, the last named for Elaine Dworak, wife of his West Point roommate and long-time friend. Rest in peace, old friend. Your contribution to our national defense mattered.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard