RALPH W. FORDYCE

NIMS, FORDYCE, WEDEKING

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/26/2002 at 13:24:16

RALPH W. FORDYCE

Military Rites For R. W. Fordyce

Military services were held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Schutte Funeral Home for Ralph W. Fordyce, 20, a Korean war casualty, with Rev. Frederick R. Ludwig, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in charge. Burial was at Alpha.

Ralph was killed in action in Korea on August 16, 1951 while serving as a rifleman. His body was returned here by military escort for burial. The local veterans organizations were present at the service.

Ralph William Fordyce, son of Floyd Fordyce and Hattie Nims Fordyce, was born September 28, 1930, at Iowa City, and was killed in action in the service of his country on August 16, 1951, near PamKogae, North Korea, aged 20 years, 10 months and 16 days.

Ralph spent the early part of his life at Waterloo. The family removed to Denver, Colorado, in 1947. He came to the Postville vicinity in 1949 and was employed as assistant lineman for the telephone company. Following this he assisted his uncle on a farm at Clermont.

He entered the service of his country in January 1951. He received 13 weeks of training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was then sent overseas to Korea. He was performing his duties as a rifleman with his company when he was killed instantly by small arms fire while his platoon engaged in an attack on enemy positions.

Left to mourn his passing are his father and his step mother of Denver, Colorado; two brothers: Clyde of Postville and Russell in the Navy at Bridgeport, Connecticut; one sister: Mrs. Frank Wedeking of Chicago, Illinois; a half brother, Roger, and a half sister, Lois, both of Denver; two nieces; two nephews; as well as other relatives and friends.

Ralph was preceded in death by his mother, in 1936, and a brother, Floyd, Jr., through drowning in 1944.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.