Ralph Eugene Foulks, Jr

Lieutenant
ATTACK SQUADRON 163, CVW-16, USS ORISKANY
United States Navy
21 July 1943 - 02 November 1973
Ridgecrest, California
Panel 33E Line 047

USS ORISKANY

VA-163
Naval Aviator

Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Ralph Eugene Foulks, Jr

7 Apr 2005

I've had a bracelet bearing his name since the 60's. I have been trying to find out his status for years. Today, I did. I found out his remains were identified on Jan. 12, 1993. I knew he was missing in action all those years and always hoped for the best.

I would like to contact his family so that I could return the bracelet. I think they would like to have it.

I know he's from Ridgecrest, California, and was married. If anyone has information on his family please email me.

I'm in The Bronx, New York City.

Elena
azucar48@optonline.net

02 May 2005

I also have a bracelet for this soldier.
If the family would like it please contact me.

From
jamiess@houston.rr.com

09 Jun 2005

I too have had his bracelet since the 60's.
I would give back to the family if they want it.
I live in Delaware.

Fran
franf@udel.edu

30 May 2006

To those who wore my brother's bracelet

If it is something you'd like to get rid of, we would take it. But if it is something you would not throw out, my preference would be for you to keep it, so he would have a bigger hug from more people who think of him. I was only 12 the night the Navy Chaplain came to our house and I remember my mother bursting into tears. I only had one brother, and wonder still how life would have been to have him with us. Thank you for your thoughtfulness for remembering him. We think of him every day.

From his youngest sister,
Colleen Ijuin
1353 Crooked Tree Court, Lilburn, Ga 30047
cpijuin@gmail.com






Family members read the inscription, inset,
dedicating the new community tennis courts
in honor of Ralph Foulks, Jr,
who was shot down over Vietnam in 1968.
Ridgecrest, CA News Review November 10, 1993.

A Note from The Virtual Wall

As night fell on 05 Jan 1968 a section of A-4E aircraft from VA-163 embarked in USS ORISKANY began an armed recon mission over the North Vietnam roadways south of Nam Dinh. A truck convoy was located and the flight leader directed an attack. After lead pulled off target he was unable to contact his wingman, LTJG Foulks (A-4E BuNo 150131).

Although the section had received antiaircraft fire it was impossible to know if Foulks had been shot down or if he had flown into the ground, always a hazard during a night dive-bombing attack. There was no sign of burning wreckage on the ground, nor could emergency radio contact be established with Foulks - he had, quite simply, disappeared.

LTJG Foulks was classed Missing in Action until after the POWs returned in 1973. On 02 Nov 1973 the Secretary of the Navy approved a Presumptive Finding of Death, and Foulks' status was changed to Died while Missing/Body not Recovered.

On 15 Dec 1988 thirty-three sets of human remains were repatriated from North Vietnam. On 12 Jan 1993 the Defense Department announced that Ralph Foulks' remains had been identified as among those repatriated four years earlier. He was buried with honors in Site 376, Section 38, Barrancas National Cemetery, aboard the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his youngest sister,
Colleen Ijuin
1353 Crooked Tree Court, Lilburn, Ga 30047
cpijuin@gmail.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 7 Apr 2005
Last updated 08/10/2006