Ron was born on October 18, 1945 in Sylacauga, Alabama and enlisted in the US Army National Guard in 1965. He was sent to Ft. Bragg for basic training and continued onto advanced training with Special Forces. Upon graduation he was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group. When he received orders for Vietnam, he was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group and then to MACV-SOG at CCN FOB4.

As a SOG recon man, Ron ran dangerous cross-border reconnaissance missions “across the fence” into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during America’s secret war in Southeast Asia. Like the other Green Berets who served in SOG, he operated in one of the most hazardous assignments of the Vietnam War, where small teams routinely worked deep in denied territory against overwhelming enemy forces. His service placed him among a rare brotherhood of soldiers whose missions remained hidden from the public for years.  Ron’s last assignment was to be sent to Northern Thailand to a base called NKP  It was here he served in communications and Brightlight Operations conducting aerial reconnaissance.

Following his combat service, Ron continued serving the Special Forces community for decades. 

He was honorably discharged in July 1976 after 10 years of service