Columbia County Honor-A-Veteran Committee honors Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. 09/27/10
09/27/10
Ralph C. Ham was born May 22, 1923 to Edward and Lena (Potts)Ham in Athens, NY. Growing up in Hudson, NY Ralph was educated at Hudson Central School. Working for two years as a delivery man for Donald F. Gohl of Union Turnpike, Hudson NY. Ralph was inducted into the United States Army on January 13, 1943. After basic training,
Ralph trained as a medic. After 15 months of service he was promoted to Section Leader with the rank of Corporal and then after 19 months to medical NCO.
Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. was assigned to the Western Pacific Theater of Operation, where he was a medical NCO with 311th General Hospital. For the next 8 months, Sergeant Ham supervised the personnel of a medical unit in the care and treatment of the sick, injured and wounded. He assisted in the supervision of operations of hospital units or dispensaries; the inspection of military facilities; as well as the preperation of medical records and reports.
On January 26, 1946, Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at Fort Dix, NJ on February 3, 1946.
Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. was awarded the following citations: American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Philippines Liberation Ribbon. He also received one Bronze Star(Service) for his
participation in the Luzon Campaign.
Ralph returned to Columbia County and went to work for Donald F. Gohl where he met and married Emily Thomas on December 30, 1946. They raised three children: Ralph Jr., Marilyn and Mark. Ralph then worked for the Hudson City School District ( John L. Edwards) and retired after 20 years.
Ralph was a devoted and caring husband, father and grandfather and great-grandfather. He was active in the
Stuyvesant Fire Company, where he served as Chief and the Stuyvesant Reformed Church. serving as an elder. He was well known for his cooking abilities and putting on many dinners in the community.
Ralph died at the age of 70 on August 10, 1994 and was buried in the Stuyvesant Cemetery. He left behind three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ralph C. Ham was born May 22, 1923 to Edward and Lena (Potts)Ham in Athens, NY. Growing up in Hudson, NY Ralph was educated at Hudson Central School. Working for two years as a delivery man for Donald F. Gohl of Union Turnpike, Hudson NY. Ralph was inducted into the United States Army on January 13, 1943. After basic training,
Ralph trained as a medic. After 15 months of service he was promoted to Section Leader with the rank of Corporal and then after 19 months to medical NCO.
Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. was assigned to the Western Pacific Theater of Operation, where he was a medical NCO with 311th General Hospital. For the next 8 months, Sergeant Ham supervised the personnel of a medical unit in the care and treatment of the sick, injured and wounded. He assisted in the supervision of operations of hospital units or dispensaries; the inspection of military facilities; as well as the preperation of medical records and reports.
On January 26, 1946, Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at Fort Dix, NJ on February 3, 1946.
Sergeant Ralph C. Ham Sr. was awarded the following citations: American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Philippines Liberation Ribbon. He also received one Bronze Star(Service) for his
participation in the Luzon Campaign.
Ralph returned to Columbia County and went to work for Donald F. Gohl where he met and married Emily Thomas on December 30, 1946. They raised three children: Ralph Jr., Marilyn and Mark. Ralph then worked for the Hudson City School District ( John L. Edwards) and retired after 20 years.
Ralph was a devoted and caring husband, father and grandfather and great-grandfather. He was active in the
Stuyvesant Fire Company, where he served as Chief and the Stuyvesant Reformed Church. serving as an elder. He was well known for his cooking abilities and putting on many dinners in the community.
Ralph died at the age of 70 on August 10, 1994 and was buried in the Stuyvesant Cemetery. He left behind three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
