Remember The Boys That Made Some Noise

Memorial Day is not exactly a happy holiday, though it is cause to celebrate. Celebrate those who have paid the ultimate price for us to enjoy not just this extra day off, but our entire existence as the people and society that we have become, flawed as it may be. A day to remember those who risked and eventually gave their lives, so that people such as myself could have the privilege to live. I owe such a debt to a man named Joe Don Ramey, K.I.A. - May 21, 1970. Only 10 days before his death, he helped my father from his downed helicopter, touching the lives of more people than he could ever imagine. One act, affected an entire generation, one moment, saved an entire family, and one day I will get to thank him.

Every Memorial Day, if my father is in town, I always show up with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label, and we have a toast. Then another, then another, and another. For years, before each shot he would say, "here's to the boys that made some noise". That phrase resonated with me, I repeated it in my head over and over again. Eventually, last year I wrote a short poem on the outside of the bag that contained the JW Black, inspired by that line, and it still hangs on his wall today. I have expanded it to a longer piece, and wrote some music behind it. Below is the full poem, and I will be sharing the song as soon as I get it done.

they fought in the air, they fought on the ground

they all kept their cool when the bullets rained down

brother to brother, they leaned on each other

ready to die for America our mother

they marched through the day, and bled through the night

from bluecoats on riverboats to those dry desert nights

was it left, was it right, now we won't get home tonight

and those caissons go rolling along

here's to the boys that made some noise

for all of the pains, and all of the joys

aren't we so lucky to be standing right here

we can never forget those in our rear view mirror

they prayed to their Gods, and wrote to their wives

setting their sites on the rest of their lives

dreams and intentions of white picket fences

with family and friends and rekindled romances

so here's a salute to the stars and the stripes

we owe it to all who have died for our rights

maybe one day we'll learn from the sins of our past

to put down our guns, and all raise a glass

here's to the boys that made some noise

for all of the pains, and all of the joys

aren't we so lucky to be standing right here

we can never forget those in our rear view mirror

So enjoy your long weekend, and most of all be safe. Don't take any moment for granted, there are those who never had the chance.

Update: My brother Wayne had found a website dedicated to my dad's unit. The website no longer exist, but he kept some pictures and info from the site. The first picture is of Chuck Poulos, the Loch piolt that carried Joe Don Ramey, and the second is of Joe, followed by his info.

     Chuck Poulos

    Joe Don Ramey

 

    Specialist Five

PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Arroyo Grande, CA
Date of birth: 05/06/1949

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E5
Rank: Specialist Five
ID No: 561663034
MOS: 67N20: UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Length Service: **
Unit: D TRP, 3RD SQDN, 4TH CAVALRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 11/15/1969
Incident Date: 05/21/1970
Casualty Date: 05/21/1970
Age at Loss: 21
Location: Province not reported, Cambodia
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Crew
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land

HERE'S TO YOU BOYS!


This is the report on the helicopter that went down with my father in it.


Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15858
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00001205
Date: 05/11/70
Unit: D/3/4 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0700 feet and 140 knots.
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: XU143119
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size.
Systems damaged were: ENGINE, FUEL SYS, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 INJ . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, JSIDR, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory