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WILLIAM F. RIDGE
Home Of Record:
GLOUCESTER
County:
Camden
Status:
Killed In Action
Rank:
CPL
Branch Of Service:
Army
Country Of Incident:
SVN
Date of Casualty:
August 24, 1969
Date of Birth:
October 11, 1949
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WILLIAM FRANCIS RIDGE
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CPL - E4 - Army - Regular
25th Infantry Division
Length of service 0 years
His tour began on Jun 30, 1969
Casualty was on Aug 24, 1969
In BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Panel 19W - Line 108 |
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William F. Ridge was born on
October 11, 1949. His home of record is Gloucester, NJ. He had two sisters,
Catherine and Barbara, and two half-brothers, Harry J. and James F. Blymer.
William was a graduate of Gloucester City High School where he was a member
of the basketball and baseball teams. He worked as a clerk at the Penn Fruit
Company store in Audubon, NJ, before entering the Army. He was a communicant
of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the Catholic Youth Organization.
William entered the Army in July 1967, and served with the 2nd Battalion,
4th Infantry, 25th Division where he attained the rank of Corporal (CPL).
On August 24, 1969, Ridge was killed in action in the vicinity of Cu Chi in
Vietnam. He had been in Vietnam just one month.
A viewing for William was held at Parker-Martin Funeral Home. A high requiem
mass was held at St. Mary’s Church in Gloucester, NJ, with internment at
Harleigh Cemetery.
Ridge was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. The citation
reads:
While on a Reconnaissance Operation, Company D came in contact with a large
enemy force in well-fortified positions with a Hedgerow. Immediately,
Private Ridge maneuvered to a strategic position and began to place
effective machine gun position. Private Ridge, with complete disregard for
his own safety, exposed himself to hostile fire as he placed a continuous
maze of fire on the enemy position silencing the position when several of
his comrades were wounded. Private Ridge, again exposed himself to the hail
of exploding projectiles to provide covering fire for the evacuation of the
injured men. As he was moving to the intended pick up zone, he was fatally
wounded by an enemy sniper.
Sources: Harry Blymer (half-brother) and NJVVMF.
MESSAGES LEFT ON THEWALL-USA
** Note that some of these
messages are from years ago and their contact information may not be good
anymore **
Wade Lucas
wlucas@nc.rr.com
I didn't know this Hero but I just wanted to say "Thanks". I am thankful
that you answered the call to fight in a war that nobody really understood.
I am sure that your loss caused great pain to your family and I hope that
God has blessed them over the years and helped them endure your passing. God
bless you! Rest in peace.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
If you would like
to add a story, comment, or contact, please email
CCVietnamKIA@gmail.com
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