James B. Ramsey III passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at the Retama Care facility, Harlingen, Texas. He was the son of James B. Ramsey II and Marie Goodwin Ramsey. He was born on October 24, 1928 in Butler, Tenn. He was preceded in death by both his parents, his beloved wife of 60 years, Betty, and daughter, Bonnie Beth. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Survivors include a son, James B. Ramsey IV (Mindy); two grandsons, James B. Ramsey V (Michelle) and Michael Ramsey; and four great-grandchildren, Ally Ramsey, James B. Ramsey VI, Andrew Ramsey and Bethany Ramsey. He is also survived by his sisters, Bonnie Ramsey Moore and Carol Moore Whaley; several nieces and nephews; and cousins, Pat and Dean Ramsey and Linda Ramsey Nussbacherr. He had many friends including his cousins-in-law, Richard and Gary Nave and Teresa Clement, and very special friends, Lt. Gen. Charles, Chick, Cleveland and Rosemary LeRoy.
A special thanks to Nora Gonzalez-Moreno and all caregivers at Retama Nursing Center, Harlingen, Texas.
After a long and distinguished 28-year career James retired from the U.S. Air Force on June 1, 1980, during a military ceremony at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. Lt. Gen. Howard Leaf presented Col. Ramsey the Legion of Merit; Third Oak Leaf Cluster, citing him for “Exceptional Meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Commander of AFTEC Detachment 1, Europe. During this assignment Col. Ramsey was the senior Air Force Officer responsible for test planning, reporting and briefing to U.S. headquarters as well as the United States Ambassadors in Norway, Denmark and the United Kingdom. He was also honored with presentations from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force and United States Air Force Europe.
Col. Ramsey entered the USAF Aviation Cadet program at Randolph AFB, Texas, in August 1949. He was a command pilot and held a Commercial Pilot’s license with over 6,100 hours of flying time. The majority compiled in Jet-Fighter aircraft from the Air Force’s first Jet-Fighter, the F-80 through the F-16. He flew combat tours in both the Korean Conflict and Southeast Asia.
A native of Elizabethton, Tenn., Col. Ramsey was a graduate of Elizabethton High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University, and a Master’s degree in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition, he was a graduate of the Squadron Officer’s School, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
He flew 100 combat missions in F-86’s in Korea with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing. Following Korea, he flew F-84’s at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, then deployed to Japan and England for rotational tours. He was assigned to Bentwaters, England as an F-101 pilot for four years during the Cold War. This assignment required him to be in the air in less than three minutes, fly at the speed of a .22 bullet, 200 feet above the ground and deliver a nuclear weapon on a preassigned target. This was a first strike assignment and once ordered to strike, he could not be recalled. He also knew that if he returned from this mission he would be on foot because there were no plans for refueling the fighter jets. He later served as Operations Officer of the Air Force’s Instrument Pilot Instructor School at Randolph AFB, Texas, prior to going to Vietnam where he flew 220 combat missions with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in the F-4 Phantom. He sustained battle damage on five different occasions including the night that Saigon was overrun by the North Vietnamese. He was later assigned to the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters, USAF the Pentagon, as Executive Secretary to the Air Staff Board. He then served as Deputy Commander for Operations 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He later served as Vice Wing Commander of the 363rd Wing. His next assignment was Director of Test and Evaluation at Kirkland AFB, New Mexico. For his final tour of duty, he served as Commander, Det.1, Air Force Test and Evaluation, Europe.
Col. Ramsey’s decorations include the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, the Air Force Commendation Medal and 14 other service awards.
In his book, Once a Fighter Pilot, Lt. General Charles, Chick, Cleveland said that Col. Ramsey “was a good friend who served with me in numerous flying assignments from pilot training to the 4th Wing, 334th Squadron in Korea, the 27th and the 81st Wings in Vietnam. We flew together many times. James was a great pilot, skilled and fearless, always upbeat and cheerful and was the greatest morale booster in the 78th Wing.”
James lived by an antiquated code where Honor, Duty, Country, Character and Integrity mattered. He flew true north through a long and vital life. He did not boast about his many accomplishments. He was a successful real estate investor, he served as chairman of several home owners associations, was a member of Eagles, a charitable organization comprised of Army, Air Force and Marine Colonels and Navy Captains. He had a joyful attitude, he lived with determination and he had a commitment to excellence in all his endeavors.
A memorial service will be held graveside, as requested. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Time and date to be determined by Arlington National Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Heavenly Grace Funeral Home, LaFeria, Texas 78559.
The family asked that in lieu of floral arrangements, please donate to your favorite charity in James’ honor.