RONALD E MECKLEY
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HONORED ON PANEL 23E, LINE 77 OF THE WALL

RONALD EUGENE MECKLEY

WALL NAME

RONALD E MECKLEY

PANEL / LINE

23E/77

DATE OF BIRTH

08/28/1946

CASUALTY PROVINCE

PHOUC TUY

DATE OF CASUALTY

07/15/1967

HOME OF RECORD

DENVER

COUNTY OF RECORD

Lancaster County

STATE

PA

BRANCH OF SERVICE

ARMY

RANK

SP5

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Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR RONALD EUGENE MECKLEY
POSTED ON 7.12.2023
POSTED BY: john fabris

honoring you.....

There is a place
Not far from here
Where spirits walk
And heroes live
And honor still resides.

It is a wall
With names inscribed
Of those who served
When they were asked...
The brothers of my youth.

I go there still
To walk and think
About my life,
And what I've done since
And things that might have been.

There is a debt
I can't repay
Too many lives were spent.
And one man's life cannot suffice
To make their deaths worthwhile.

But there is hope
In the memory
Of those we leave behind
Who know the price that freedom brings
Who can carry on in kind.

I send you now
To touch a name
So the vision can be passed
Remember there is honor still
It is for you to see it lasts.

They are not dead
And have a wish
As all old soldiers do
The reflection you see before you now
Is their wish to live in you.
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POSTED ON 10.26.2021

Final Mission of SP5 Ronald E. Meckley

Operation Paddington (July 9-15, 1967) was a large search and destroy operation involving nearly 15,000 U.S., South Vietnamese, and Australian troops based in Bien Hoa Province, RVN, and targeted the Viet Cong (VC) 5th Division. Under the overall command of MGEN George G. O'Connor, commander U.S. 9th Infantry Division, allied forces for Operation Paddington included the U.S. 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion, U.S. 47th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), the U.S. 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Task Force B Marine Corps (Republic of Vietnam), and the 1st Australian Task Force, as well as various supporting arms including two artillery batteries and more than a thousand armored vehicles and helicopters. Paddington failed to result in significant contact in spite of well-coordinated search techniques and blocking forces. A large number of VC camps, bunkers, and storage areas were uncovered and destroyed, resulting in significant disruption to the communist logistic system. On July 15, 1967, 2nd Platoon, A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division, was conducting a road sweep on Route 328 from Fire Support Base Mike to Fire Support Base George in Phuoc Tuy Province in support of Paddington. At the same time, 3rd Platoon, B Troop, 3/5, was sweeping it from FSB George to FSB John. At 10:40 AM, as B Troop’s 3rd Platoon was returning to George, they were ambushed six miles northwest of Xuyen Moc by an estimated two squads of Viet Cong firing recoilless rifle and small arms. Responding to the ambush, the squadron sent B Troops’ 1st Platoon and A Troop’s 2nd and part of its 3rd Platoon to assist. Contact was broken after twenty-five minutes of fighting. The 3rd Platoon casualties were two killed and two wounded. The dead included medic SP4 Patrick D. Lucas and SP5 Ronald E. Meckley, both sustaining fragmentation wounds after their vehicle was hit by an anti-tank round. Enemy losses were unknown. Because of a storm at Blackhorse Base Camp, the dustoff (emergency helicopter medivac) called in at 10:45 AM was delayed and not completed until 12:05 PM. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Third Squadron, Fifth Cavalry in Vietnam” at 3-5cav-blackknights.org]
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POSTED ON 9.15.2020
POSTED BY: Lucy Micik

Thank You

Dear Sp5 Ronald Meckley, Thank you for your service as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. I researched you on your 74th birthday, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The anniversary of the terror attacks just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.
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POSTED ON 6.17.2016
POSTED BY: James Mumma

Remembering a brother ;

I want to thank you for your service , you are a true HERO . You are one of the many servicemen who paid the supreme sacrifice . Your wife & I are cousins so I got to see your daughter Lori Ann often. She grew into a fine women & mother you would have been proud of. I was in Nam in "68" & came home in early "69"making us "brothers' but you're the 'HERO'. Rest in peace "brother'.
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POSTED ON 7.15.2013
POSTED BY: Curt Carter

Remembering An American Hero

Dear SP5 Ronald Eugene Meckley, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter
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