Howard Verne Ramsey (b. April 2, 1898 in Rico, Colorado) is one of the last surviving WW1 veterans in the United States. Ramsey saw action in France during the war. His story was told in a 2005 speech by Vice President Dick Cheney commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Veterans Administration [1]. Ramsey was awarded the 14th National Convention 1932 American Legion US Portland, Oregon medal, the World War Service medal from the State of Oregon, the 75th Anniversary of WWI medal, and two Republic Française medals (awarded to US citizens by France).
Howard Ramsey graduated from Washington High School in Portland, Oregon in 1916. While in high school, he joined the Naval Militia and was on a U.S. Naval ship, The USS Marblehead. Each high school was a part of a miliary unit, his was Naval. After high school, he wanted to go into the Army with his buddy, Harry. They were too young to be drafted, so he had to enlist. He and his buddy were too thin, so they ate bananas and drank water so they could fatten up. They enlisted in the Army in 1916 in Salt Lake and served in France in WWI. He and his buddy were in different companies, but got to see each other. One of his fondest memory of France, is he was waiting outside the military vehicle to take an officer some place, and a little French girl came by and sat in his car and asked him for a souvenir. He said he didn’t have anything, but looked around and gave her an American penny and she gave him a little gift wrapped in tissue. As she left, he looked in the tissue and found a lock of her curly hair. He still has that lock of hair. We burried this lock of hair with him when he passed on February 22, 2007 at 108 years of age.
He was one of the few men who could drive a motor vehicle, so he didn’t have to be on the front lines. He drove cars, trucks and motorcycles while in the WWI. Howard drove trucks to the lines where soldiers had been killed to help transport their bodies back to the United States. He also chauffeured officers, drove ambulances and taught men how to drive. He did his fair share of walking in the cold wearing the uncomfortable wool uniforms of the time. They brought back with them a large missel that two men had to carry. (We donated this to Camp Withycomb in Clackamas). His brother was also in the Army, but in a different company. He did get a furlough to go and visit his brother on an Indian motorcycle which he wrecked in the snow and his company had to come and pick him and the motorcycle up.
Thanks to all of you who helped in his passing to be with God and his wife. He will truely be missed.
