Lloyd B. Ramsey

Major General Lloyd B. Ramsey (29 May 191823 February 2016) was a United States Army officer who served in World War II and the Vietnam War.

Early life He was born on 29 May 1918 in Somerset, Kentucky, the youngest of three brothers. He graduated from Somerset High School in 1936, where he served as senior class president. Afterward he enrolled the University of Kentucky graduating in 1940.

Military career He enlisted in the Army in May 1940.

In February 1943 he was appointed as Aide-de-camp to General Harold Alexander.

In November 1943 he was reassigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

On 7 September 1944 his command post at Besançon was attacked by a German force. Corporal Robert D. Maxwell fell on a German hand grenade absorbing the blast with his body and saving Ramsey from serious injury. Maxwell was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

In early May 1945 his 3rd Battalion and the 1st Battalion were ordered by regimental commander Colonel John A. Heintges to capture Berchtesgaden, Adolf Hitler’s mountain retreat which they successfully achieved on 4 May. Ramsey initially refused to allow General Philippe Leclerc to cross a bridge into the area until he received confirmation that the 7th Regiment had captured Berchtesgaden.

He was assigned to the Infantry School as an instructor in 1946, he then served with the War Department General Staff. He attended Command and General Staff College in 1949–1950. In 1954 he was appointed as deputy, and later as Secretary, of the Joint Staff of the United Nations Command and Far East Command. In 1957 he was transferred to Fort Benning where he commanded the 14th Infantry Regiment and then the 1st Infantry Brigade. In September 1958 he became the G-1 of the U.S. Army Infantry Center. In July 1959 he was assigned to South Korea and served as the U.S. Army Advisor to the Korean National Defense College until August 1960. He returned to the Department of the Army General Staff in September 1960, serving in the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison. In April 1963, he became executive officer of the Office, Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development. On 1 March 1966 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Information under Brigadier General Keith L. Ware.

In December 1968 he was appointed deputy commander of 1st Logistics Command in South Vietnam.

On 17 March 1970 his command and control helicopter crashed into jungle approximately west of Chu Lai Base Area killing two onboard and wounding him and others. The survivors were eventually rescued 18 hours later.

On 14 July 1970 he was appointed United States Army Provost Marshal General and he served in that role until 20 May 1974 when the role was abolished.

He retired from the Army on 1 August 1974.

Later life He died on 25 February 2016 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Decorations His decorations include Distinguished Service Medal (2), Silver Star (3), Legion of Merit (2), Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star (4), Purple Heart (5), Air Medal (17), Gallantry Cross with Palm, Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class, Croix de Guerre and Order of the British Empire.