Ronald Cory Saffell

Specialist Four
B CO, 1ST BN, 12TH CAV RGT, 1 CAV DIV
Army of the United States
29 October 1949 - 16 December 1968
Odessa, TX
Panel 36W Line 031

1 CAV DIV 12TH CAV RGT
Silver Star

Combat Infantry

Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign
Ronnie Saffell

The database page for Ronald Cory Saffell

1 Mar 2004

Ronnie was from the oilfields of West Texas, Odessa, Texas. I knew him from grade school at Cameron Elementary and from the neighborhood. He was three grades below me in school, but I always thought he was a good guy. When I was in the 6th grade, he was in the 3rd. He used to hang around us older kids as we would play baseball on the school grounds. I would also pick Ronnie to be on my team even though at the time he couldn't hit very well. He never complained. It was heart wrenching to know that he died in Vietnam. I was in-country when he died and I did not know it for many years. When I first saw his name on the Ector Country Memorial, I kept thinking that was not the Ronnie I knew, but sadly it was.

Ronnie dropped out of high school to go into the service. He got his GED in the Army. Ronnie was barely 19 years old when he was killed. He was a recipient of the Silver Star and Bronze Star with "V".

May his sacrifice never be in vain.

Ronnie Saffell is remembered by his classmates from
Odessa High School, Class of 68

The photo was taken from the 1968 High School Annual

A Note from The Virtual Wall

B Company, 1/12th Cavalry, lost two men on 16 Dec 1968 while operating in Phuoc Long Province:
  • SP4 Richard W. Randolph, Greenville, KY
  • SP4 Ronald C. Saffell, Odessa, TX
The following is taken from the Texas Permian Basin web site:

SAFFELL, RONALD COREY
SP4, U.S. Army
Ector County, Texas

Picture:
None Available

Medals:
Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Medal.

Biography:
Ronnie Saffell was born October 29, 1949 in Midland, Texas. He moved to Odessa to attend Cameron Elementary, Bowie Junior High School, and Odessa High School. He loved swimming and fishing. Ronnie was killed in action on December 16, 1968.





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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009