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<em>Ronald Thomas Shelton</em> was born in East Orange, NJ, the second child of Marvin Clarence Shelton, Sr., and Emma Julia Swint Shelton. His parents and brother, Marvin, Jr., went to visit family in New Jersey and were unable to return to Texas when the Depression hit, so they stayed for 12 years. Ron was born during this “vacation.” In 1941, they moved to Longview, TX; in 1946 to St. Louis, MO; and in 1950 to Decatur, IL, where Ron finished his school years.</p>
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As a child, Ron dressed up like a soldier and played war. He idolized his brother, who had joined the Marines underage, and he, too, wanted to be in the military. He excelled in school, was a member of the National Honor Society, sang in the First Baptist Church choir, and was active in the youth group. He was a member of the Decatur Chapter of The Order of the Demolay and Civil Air Patrol, and as a Boy Scout, reached the rank of Eagle Scout.</p>
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Ron graduated from Decatur High in June 1955 and entered West Point that summer. He was a member of the German Club, Model Airplane and Model Railroad Clubs, Handball, Fencing, Chess, and Bridge Clubs. He served as custodian of the Fencing Club’s funds his First Class year. Ron sang in the Cadet Chapel Choir and occasionally played the piano and organ at the Protestant Chapel. As a first classman, he held the rank of Sergeant, and graduated 90th of 499. His parents and sister attended graduation, and his mother proudly pinned on his bars.</p>
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During a West Point training exercise in the summer of 1958, he met Carol Forslund, daughter of an Army officer. After gradua­tion, Ron selected Artillery and reported to Ft. Sill, OK, for training, and they married at the Post Chapel on 7 Jun 1959. Their first child, Michael, was born the following May, shortly before they were transferred to Baumholder, Germany, for three years. In December 1962, their first daughter, Victoria, was born.</p>
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Returning to the States in 1963, Ron was assigned to Ft. Campbell, KY, with the 101st Airborne Division. Their second daughter, Elizabeth, was born in January 1964. His next assignment was Ft. Bragg, NC, to train for the U.S. Special Forces. There he was united with his brother, Marvin Jr., a Green Beret. Marvin had completed one tour in Viet Nam and wanted to serve another. Ron believed it was his duty to serve and volun­teered to go to Viet Nam. He moved his fam­ily to Gig Harbour, WA, to be close to Carol’s family and Ft. Lewis, WA, while he was away. He left for Viet Nam on 10 Dec 1965.</p>
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Ron was Airborne, Special Forces, Master Parachutist, and Ranger qualified. In Viet Nam, he was commander of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Camp A-415 in Tuyen Nhon. The night of 9-10 Apr 1966, Ron’s unit came under heavy attack from the Viet Cong, resulting in numerous en­emy casualties. Ron would not assign the body-counting task to any of his men, often conducting the deadly deed himself. On the morning of 10 April, Easter Sunday 1966, Ron set out over the camp’s embankment to conduct the body count and was killed by a booby-trapped body of a Viet Cong.</p>
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Dale F. Smith ’62, commander of Camp A-416 next to Ron’s camp, stated, “I was in­country when Ron was killed and affected more than I can say by his death. He was a fine gentleman and an equally fine officer. When the order came down that we had to provide ‘head count’ of the enemy killed, the A-team commanders were incredulous. The Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese advi­sors had standing rewards for killing a SF sol­dier. I believe the price on a SF captain was $50,000—a considerable sum in that forlorn country. Ron’s A-415 Camp had a particu­larly hard attack that fateful night. Ron went out the morning after; a VC tripped the munitions that riddled his body with holes. The VC were clever enough to know that the Americans had to engage in body count, so they merely set up the trap and waited.”</p>
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An “Infantry scout dog” platoon leader at­tached to his unit said, “He led us on patrols and demonstrated exceptional leadership in all that he did. He led by example and put his men before himself.” This soldier was on or­ders to leave Viet Nam in May 1966, but Ron sent him back to Can Tho in early April to prepare for his PCS. According to the platoon leader, Ron’s generous action saved his life.</p>
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Ron’s “C” Team commander, COL William Tuttle, had dinner with Ron the night before Ron’s death. He said Ron com­manded one of the best, but one of the most dangerous, camps in country. He said Ron was one of his finest officers, with great po­tential. Several of the “old soldiers,” seasoned, Special Forces non-commissioned officers, agreed Ron was one of the finest officers with whom they had served.</p>
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Today he is survived by wife Carol Richards; son Michael; daughters Victoria Plooster and Elizabeth Mac; sister Sandra Solomon; mother and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Forslund; nephews; and cousins. He is also survived by four grand­daughters, Tara Garcia, Corri Abraham, Linda Shelton, and Sarah Mac; four grand­sons; Jacob and Jordan Abraham, Gary Shelton and Jarred Mac; one great-grand­son; and two great-granddaughters.</p>
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For service to his country, Ron was award­ed the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. From the Republic of South Viet Nam, he was awarded the Gallantry Cross with Silver Star and the National Order of Viet Nam.</p>
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“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13</p>
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Well done, Ron. Be thou at peace!</p>
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<em>—Sandra Solomon, sister, and classmate Ron Templeton ’59</em></p>