William David Howsare Ragin

The database page for William David Howsare Ragin

Captain William D. H. Ragin was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on August 20, 1964. "Captain Ragin was serving as an advisor to the 41st Vietnamese Ranger Battalion when it was ambushed in the Ham Long District, Kien Hoa Province in South Vietnam. Under intense fire, then-Lieutenant Ragin made a request for reinforcements that included artillery and air support. He then took charge of the ground forces. The Viet Cong conducted four major assaults upon the Ranger position. Lt Ragin delivered accurate fire to counter the enemy assaults three times. He was last seen alive firing his machine gun into the fourth and last assault. His action killed more than 30 enemy soldiers. His sacrifice of his life enabled the rest of his unit to withdraw from a vastly superior force." From a letter to his mother from U. S. Army General Barry R. McCaffrey (Captain Ragin's father-in-law.) Lt. Ragin was 25 when he died in service to his country. His promotion to captain came after his death. "Undaunted by the extremely heavy gun fire, Captain Ragin completely disregarded his own personal safety, took a lead position and encouraged the friendly forces to defend themselves. During the ensuing engagement in which the enemy launched several vicious assaults, he remained in an exposed position to direct the defense operations. When the intense enemy gun fire was concentrated on his position, he demonstrated fortitude and perseverance by retaliating with the utmost accuracy and succeeded in annihilating a great number of enemy troops during a battle that lasted for one hour and 40 minutes. Despite the overwhelming onslaught, he covered the withdrawal of the Rangers with outstanding effectiveness and continued his courageous efforts until mortally wounded. Captain Ragin's conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroic actions are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service." From the Presidential Order awarding the Distinguished Service Cross. Captain Ragin is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Photo (c) Michael Robert Patterson, September 1999 Captain William D. H. Ragin was killed in action in Vietnam on August 20, 1964, along with two other Americans and more than 200 South Vietnamese in what the Army called "the 60 minutes of the bloodiest fighting." He was a graduate of the Citadel and his wife was the daughter of the Commandant there. According to witnesses, the unit he served with refused to retreat and fought to the end. A US survivor said, "All of them were professionals. They were made of the stuff that makes men heroes." The Old Guard officer in charge of his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery was his closest friend who had been rotated home from Vietnam a short time earlier. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart and an Oak Leaf Cluster. He is buried in Section 35 at Arlington (adjacent to the Memorial Amphitheater) and next to him is buried the young daughter that he never met, Lisa Ann Ragin, who was born on October 15, 1963 and who died on October 1, 1964. Michael Robert Patterson Webmaster@ArlingtonCemetery.com From the Putnam County (Florida) Archivist, Mary E. Murphy putnamarchive@hotmail.com 27 Aug 2002

"BEST SCHOOL SPIRIT" Paula Forsythe and David Ragin Photo from the yearbook, Palatka High School Class of 1957 The caption on his yearbook portrait at the top of this page: "HE IS SO GOOD THAT NO ONE CAN BE A BETTER MAN" From a friend and classmate, Rose E. {Smith} Boyd comorose67@gbso.net 18 Apr 2004

A Note from The Virtual Wall Three, not two, other Americans were killed in the battle: Captain Byron Clark Stone, DSC (also buried in Arlington National Cemetery); Captain James Michael Coyle, DSC; and Sergeant First Class Tom Ward, DSC. Captain Ragin's body was escorted home by a high school classmate and fellow Army officer assigned to MACV's Special Detachment 5891. That officer returned to Vietnam upon completion of his escort duties, and was killed in action on 11 May 1965: Captain Henry A. Deutsch. Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, D.C. 05 February 1965 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 2 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. RAGIN, William David Howsare Captain Infantry U.S. Army Advisor, 41st Ranger Battalion (ARVN), Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date action: 20 August 1964 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William David Howsare Ragin, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Captain Ragin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 August 1964. Captain Ragin was serving as an Advisor to a Ranger Battalion of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam when the friendly forces were suddenly ambushed by hostile elements. Undaunted by the extremely heavy gun fire, Captain Ragin completely disregarded his own personal safety, took a lead position, and encouraged the friendly forces to defend themselves. During the ensuring engagement in which the enemy gun fire was concentrated on his position, he demonstrated fortitude and perseverance by retaliating with the utmost accuracy and succeeded in annihilating a great number of enemy troops during a battle that lasted for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Despite an overwhelming onslaught, he covered the withdrawal of the Rangers with outstanding effectiveness and continued his courageous efforts until mortally wounded. Captain Ragin's conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroic actions are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Authority: By direction of the President.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is the Putnam County (Florida) Archivist, Mary E. Murphy putnamarchive@hotmail.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 27 Aug 2002
Last updated 10/15/2006