Colonel Ronald Dudley Ray, USMC, passed into eternity on July 6, 2020.
Colonel Ray exemplified the dichotomy of the warrior mindset as well as the guardian mindset. As a young Captain in South Vietnam, Ron Ray was tasked as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps (embedded with the South Vietnamese Marines similarly to a TFO) during the Tet Offensive and other campaigns where he was twice awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry, a Bronze Star with V device and a Purple Heart. His service in combat has been awarded and he stands with a very few elite Marines, all highly decorated brave men who heard their country call. These Marines include General Tony Zinni, Colonel Wes Fox, Colonel John Ripley and others, as Marines and Citizens, we stand in the shadow of these giants.
1968 was a brutal year in Vietnam where more than 16,000 US Service members were killed. The massacre at My Lai occurred in March of that year and would mark a change in the United States where riots occurred, buildings were burned and returning US servicemen were assaulted and disdained by a loud minority. No longer would our troops be comfortable in public wearing a uniform earned in sweat and ribbons earned in blood, or even a haircut which could suggest service. We have all heard about that generation and the uncertainty that marked the era. But what does someone who has incredible and unique experience do when it seems the whole world hates them? Ron Ray, who would never again call in artillery or fire a shot in anger, began a work as a guardian to serve his fellow veterans. Graduating from UL law at the top of his class, Ron Ray would be an advocate for those without a voice. Among other acts of service he worked to form a group to encourage leadership among Vietnam Veterans. His goal was to help Veterans return home with dignity, to dispel myths about Vietnam Veterans, and to shed light on their heroism in country and successes they achieved at home.
In 1988, then Colonel Ray, lead the effort to raise over $1 million in private donations to build the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. Today you can visit the memorial which is a sundial, a shadow is cast on the name of KIA Kentucky veteran on the day of their death every year. With the concept in mind and very limited computing power available, the architects involved did not know if it would work until it was finished. Colonel Ray continued throughout his life to speak into the lives of veterans, young and old. His guardian mindset was always apparent as a Veteran in need of anything was his highest priority.
In 1984, Colonel Ray was appointed the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Guard/Reserve) in Washington, D.C. In 1988, Colonel Ray founded and served as the first Chairman of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which privately raised more than one million dollars to build and dedicate a unique granite sundial in Frankfort, Kentucky as a memorial to Kentucky Vietnam veterans.
Colonel Ray left the business of law to practice a unique blend of law and history from his farm on a Kentucky hillside. He amassed a collection of over 10,000 books on American history from the founding to present day. He wrote and spoke on current public affairs and Constitutional issues.
Colonel Ray was married to Eunice Van Winkle Ray and enjoyed the love of his children and grandchildren.
Visitation is Friday, July 10, 2020 at Crestwood Baptist Church, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, the funeral service is 11:00 am at Crestwood Baptist Church, 6400 Sweetbay Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky. Private burial will follow at the Frankfort Cemetery.
Colonel Ray exemplified the dichotomy of the warrior mindset as well as the guardian mindset. As a young Captain in South Vietnam, Ron Ray was tasked as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps (embedded with the South Vietnamese Marines similarly to a TFO) during the Tet Offensive and other campaigns where he was twice awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry, a Bronze Star with V device and a Purple Heart. His service in combat has been awarded and he stands with a very few elite Marines, all highly decorated brave men who heard their country call. These Marines include General Tony Zinni, Colonel Wes Fox, Colonel John Ripley and others, as Marines and Citizens, we stand in the shadow of these giants.
1968 was a brutal year in Vietnam where more than 16,000 US Service members were killed. The massacre at My Lai occurred in March of that year and would mark a change in the United States where riots occurred, buildings were burned and returning US servicemen were assaulted and disdained by a loud minority. No longer would our troops be comfortable in public wearing a uniform earned in sweat and ribbons earned in blood, or even a haircut which could suggest service. We have all heard about that generation and the uncertainty that marked the era. But what does someone who has incredible and unique experience do when it seems the whole world hates them? Ron Ray, who would never again call in artillery or fire a shot in anger, began a work as a guardian to serve his fellow veterans. Graduating from UL law at the top of his class, Ron Ray would be an advocate for those without a voice. Among other acts of service he worked to form a group to encourage leadership among Vietnam Veterans. His goal was to help Veterans return home with dignity, to dispel myths about Vietnam Veterans, and to shed light on their heroism in country and successes they achieved at home.
In 1988, then Colonel Ray, lead the effort to raise over $1 million in private donations to build the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. Today you can visit the memorial which is a sundial, a shadow is cast on the name of KIA Kentucky veteran on the day of their death every year. With the concept in mind and very limited computing power available, the architects involved did not know if it would work until it was finished. Colonel Ray continued throughout his life to speak into the lives of veterans, young and old. His guardian mindset was always apparent as a Veteran in need of anything was his highest priority.
In 1984, Colonel Ray was appointed the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Guard/Reserve) in Washington, D.C. In 1988, Colonel Ray founded and served as the first Chairman of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which privately raised more than one million dollars to build and dedicate a unique granite sundial in Frankfort, Kentucky as a memorial to Kentucky Vietnam veterans.
Colonel Ray left the business of law to practice a unique blend of law and history from his farm on a Kentucky hillside. He amassed a collection of over 10,000 books on American history from the founding to present day. He wrote and spoke on current public affairs and Constitutional issues.
Colonel Ray was married to Eunice Van Winkle Ray and enjoyed the love of his children and grandchildren.
Visitation is Friday, July 10, 2020 at Crestwood Baptist Church, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, the funeral service is 11:00 am at Crestwood Baptist Church, 6400 Sweetbay Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky. Private burial will follow at the Frankfort Cemetery.
Colonel Ronald Dudley Ray, USMC, passed into eternity on July 6, 2020.
Colonel Ray exemplified the dichotomy of the warrior mindset as well as the guardian mindset. As a young Captain in South Vietnam, Ron Ray was tasked as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps (embedded with the South Vietnamese Marines similarly to a TFO) during the Tet Offensive and other campaigns where he was twice awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry, a Bronze Star with V device and a Purple Heart. His service in combat has been awarded and he stands with a very few elite Marines, all highly decorated brave men who heard their country call. These Marines include General Tony Zinni, Colonel Wes Fox, Colonel John Ripley and others, as Marines and Citizens, we stand in the shadow of these giants.
1968 was a brutal year in Vietnam where more than 16,000 US Service members were killed. The massacre at My Lai occurred in March of that year and would mark a change in the United States where riots occurred, buildings were burned and returning US servicemen were assaulted and disdained by a loud minority. No longer would our troops be comfortable in public wearing a uniform earned in sweat and ribbons earned in blood, or even a haircut which could suggest service. We have all heard about that generation and the uncertainty that marked the era. But what does someone who has incredible and unique experience do when it seems the whole world hates them? Ron Ray, who would never again call in artillery or fire a shot in anger, began a work as a guardian to serve his fellow veterans. Graduating from UL law at the top of his class, Ron Ray would be an advocate for those without a voice. Among other acts of service he worked to form a group to encourage leadership among Vietnam Veterans. His goal was to help Veterans return home with dignity, to dispel myths about Vietnam Veterans, and to shed light on their heroism in country and successes they achieved at home.
In 1988, then Colonel Ray, lead the effort to raise over $1 million in private donations to build the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. Today you can visit the memorial which is a sundial, a shadow is cast on the name of KIA Kentucky veteran on the day of their death every year. With the concept in mind and very limited computing power available, the architects involved did not know if it would work until it was finished. Colonel Ray continued throughout his life to speak into the lives of veterans, young and old. His guardian mindset was always apparent as a Veteran in need of anything was his highest priority.
In 1984, Colonel Ray was appointed the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Guard/Reserve) in Washington, D.C. In 1988, Colonel Ray founded and served as the first Chairman of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which privately raised more than one million dollars to build and dedicate a unique granite sundial in Frankfort, Kentucky as a memorial to Kentucky Vietnam veterans.
Colonel Ray left the business of law to practice a unique blend of law and history from his farm on a Kentucky hillside. He amassed a collection of over 10,000 books on American history from the founding to present day. He wrote and spoke on current public affairs and Constitutional issues.
Colonel Ray was married to Eunice Van Winkle Ray and enjoyed the love of his children and grandchildren.
Visitation is Friday, July 10, 2020 at Crestwood Baptist Church, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, the funeral service is 11:00 am at Crestwood Baptist Church, 6400 Sweetbay Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky. Private burial will follow at the Frankfort Cemetery.
Colonel Ray exemplified the dichotomy of the warrior mindset as well as the guardian mindset. As a young Captain in South Vietnam, Ron Ray was tasked as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps (embedded with the South Vietnamese Marines similarly to a TFO) during the Tet Offensive and other campaigns where he was twice awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry, a Bronze Star with V device and a Purple Heart. His service in combat has been awarded and he stands with a very few elite Marines, all highly decorated brave men who heard their country call. These Marines include General Tony Zinni, Colonel Wes Fox, Colonel John Ripley and others, as Marines and Citizens, we stand in the shadow of these giants.
1968 was a brutal year in Vietnam where more than 16,000 US Service members were killed. The massacre at My Lai occurred in March of that year and would mark a change in the United States where riots occurred, buildings were burned and returning US servicemen were assaulted and disdained by a loud minority. No longer would our troops be comfortable in public wearing a uniform earned in sweat and ribbons earned in blood, or even a haircut which could suggest service. We have all heard about that generation and the uncertainty that marked the era. But what does someone who has incredible and unique experience do when it seems the whole world hates them? Ron Ray, who would never again call in artillery or fire a shot in anger, began a work as a guardian to serve his fellow veterans. Graduating from UL law at the top of his class, Ron Ray would be an advocate for those without a voice. Among other acts of service he worked to form a group to encourage leadership among Vietnam Veterans. His goal was to help Veterans return home with dignity, to dispel myths about Vietnam Veterans, and to shed light on their heroism in country and successes they achieved at home.
In 1988, then Colonel Ray, lead the effort to raise over $1 million in private donations to build the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. Today you can visit the memorial which is a sundial, a shadow is cast on the name of KIA Kentucky veteran on the day of their death every year. With the concept in mind and very limited computing power available, the architects involved did not know if it would work until it was finished. Colonel Ray continued throughout his life to speak into the lives of veterans, young and old. His guardian mindset was always apparent as a Veteran in need of anything was his highest priority.
In 1984, Colonel Ray was appointed the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Guard/Reserve) in Washington, D.C. In 1988, Colonel Ray founded and served as the first Chairman of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which privately raised more than one million dollars to build and dedicate a unique granite sundial in Frankfort, Kentucky as a memorial to Kentucky Vietnam veterans.
Colonel Ray left the business of law to practice a unique blend of law and history from his farm on a Kentucky hillside. He amassed a collection of over 10,000 books on American history from the founding to present day. He wrote and spoke on current public affairs and Constitutional issues.
Colonel Ray was married to Eunice Van Winkle Ray and enjoyed the love of his children and grandchildren.
Visitation is Friday, July 10, 2020 at Crestwood Baptist Church, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, the funeral service is 11:00 am at Crestwood Baptist Church, 6400 Sweetbay Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky. Private burial will follow at the Frankfort Cemetery.
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