Howard was a 20-year-old with a budding skill when the U.S. Army sent him to World War I battlefields in France. He could drive an automobile. Given it was a time when the automobile was a relatively novel transportation mode, Ramsey's ability to drive made him stand out. Thus, as a U.S. Army corporal stationed in France, he had important tasks as a driver. He ferried officers, carried water to troops on the front lines and transported dead soldiers from temporary graves to cemeteries. He often spoke of his duties as an honor and a privilege. He was Oregon's last living World War I veteran and America's oldest known combat veteran. Born in Colorado he moved with his family to Portland in 1913 and graduated from Washington High School in 1916. He was a member of the Naval Militia. He enlisted in the Army in 1918 and was stationed in Cheyenne, Wyo., before going to France for 11/2 years until late 1919. Upon returning to the United States, he worked as a tour bus driver in Salt Lake City for a few years. He then moved to Portland, where he married Hilda Epling in 1923. She died in 1982. Ramsey began a 40-plus-year career with Pacific Northwest Bell telephone company. After a job transfer took him and his wife to Los Angeles for about five years, they returned to Portland about 1930. Ramsey worked at the company as an engineer until his retirement around 1963. In retirement, Ramsey and his wife traveled the country by car, as well as to Mexico frequently. They also went to Australia and South America. In recent years gained attention as one of a dwindling number of American World War I veterans. He died peacefully in his sleep in an assisted living center at age 108.
Howard was a 20-year-old with a budding skill when the U.S. Army sent him to World War I battlefields in France. He could drive an automobile. Given it was a time when the automobile was a relatively novel transportation mode, Ramsey's ability to drive made him stand out. Thus, as a U.S. Army corporal stationed in France, he had important tasks as a driver. He ferried officers, carried water to troops on the front lines and transported dead soldiers from temporary graves to cemeteries. He often spoke of his duties as an honor and a privilege. He was Oregon's last living World War I veteran and America's oldest known combat veteran. Born in Colorado he moved with his family to Portland in 1913 and graduated from Washington High School in 1916. He was a member of the Naval Militia. He enlisted in the Army in 1918 and was stationed in Cheyenne, Wyo., before going to France for 11/2 years until late 1919. Upon returning to the United States, he worked as a tour bus driver in Salt Lake City for a few years. He then moved to Portland, where he married Hilda Epling in 1923. She died in 1982. Ramsey began a 40-plus-year career with Pacific Northwest Bell telephone company. After a job transfer took him and his wife to Los Angeles for about five years, they returned to Portland about 1930. Ramsey worked at the company as an engineer until his retirement around 1963. In retirement, Ramsey and his wife traveled the country by car, as well as to Mexico frequently. They also went to Australia and South America. In recent years gained attention as one of a dwindling number of American World War I veterans. He died peacefully in his sleep in an assisted living center at age 108.
