Ronnie Lee Eckenroad

The database page for Ronnie Lee Eckenroad

19 Mar 2003 I don't remember you, my brother, because I was only 2 years old. But I have pictures of us together and the stuffed animal lamb you bought for me the day I was born. And most importantly I have you forever in my heart. You were a proud and handsome Marine and always will be. Rest well, my brother. Always Your baby sister Janet Eckenroad Kerry 23 Apr 2005 Well, my brother, here we are so many years later. I haven't been able to do this because it hurts too much. Mom joined you in '97, well now Dad is there too. So close to your day - March 15. I hope you all had a huge reunion. Take good care of him for me. As always, Dear Ronnie, you are my hero, well now you have my moon and my sun there with you as well. I love you, Ronnie... From his sister, Janet Eckenroad Kerry pokeymouse@aol.com

19 Apr 2003 Hey Uncle Ronnie! Uncle Ronnie, I want you to know that I love and I miss you very much! Hope you know all this! I'm your niece Janet Nachelle! I'm sure you know who I am! I love you so much, Uncle Ronnie! I wish you were here! Mommy misses you a lot to. I don't know much about you. I've seen pictures and I heard your voice! I wish I knew more about you! It's gonna be hard but I'm gonna try to see what I can learn so I know you better! If you were here with me right now I probably be bugging you to take me out for ice cream or if you still had your motorcycle I would ask for you to take me for a ride! I got to go now. I love you very much! love your niece Janet Nachelle skypurple92@netscape.net

04 Aug 2003 Uncle Ronnie ... I've heard a lot about you. But I what I want to know is what it was like when you were alive. Love forever and always, Patrick Kerry shrimp8590@aol.com

29 Nov 2006 Always Faithful An Echo of Honor A "Lesson" once Learned A strong Pillar of strength Speechless admiration, eternally earned The Echo of Bravery That Thunders the call A light in the darkness A "Hero" to all The Echo of Valor That few could attain The true meaning of Brother That Echo's your name An Echo of Family Two Words, "Semper Fi" Where your're never forgotten For whom you laid down your Life An Echo of Silence At what You have done Saved some Brother's Brother A Mom's only Son Echo, You Echoed In Dad's tender voice Your Courage the "Lesson" He taught both his boys Echo, You Echo in all that is Good Where most said they wouldn't You said, "You Would" Snowflakes in Summer And Winter's warm rain Where Echo's are Magic And silence the pain Echo, You Echo in My life today My debt of Freedom, the "Gift" The price of Freedom, you paid.... Written for Ronnie Lee Eckenroad "Echo" ... Written for the difference that "Echos" in all the lives that are made eternally better by you. Written by Tommy D. Hill, Jr., for his Father, Tommy D. Hill, Sr., who served with Ronnie in Viet Nam. From his best friend, Tom Hill Sr. 421 East Bigelow Street, Upper Sandusky, Ohio 43351-1121 thill2@woh.rr.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall Golf 2/4 lost three men on 19 March 1969: 2ndLt Anthony A. Giretti, Baldwin, NY (Silver Star) Pfc Ronnie L. Eckenroad, Beaver Falls, PA (Bronze Star for valor) Pfc Daniel G. Wessler, Vancouver, WA The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the BRONZE STAR MEDAL posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RONNIE L. ECKENROAD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Rifleman with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division. On 17th March 1969, Private First Class Eckenroad's Squad was conducting a combat patrol northwest of Fire Support Base Neville in Quang Tri Province during Operation Purple Martin when the Marines came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army unit. Completely disregarding his own safety, Private First Class Eckenroad directed accurate effective suppressive fire at the hostile positions and was instrumental in destroying two enemy automatic weapons emplacements. Disregarding the hostile rounds impacting nearby, he then maneuvered to a position from which he could provide covering fire for removal of the casualties. Subsequently, on 19 March, his squad again came in contact with a platoon-sized enemy unit and was pinned down by the intense hostile fire. With the safety of his comrades utmost in his mind, Private First Class Eckenroad left the relative safety of his covered position and advanced to the point of heaviest contact in order to provide covering fire for his companions. While engaged in this selfless task, he was mortally wounded. Private First Class Eckenroad's aggressive fighting spirit and sincere concern for the welfare of his fellow Marines inspired all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service." The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized. FOR THE PRESIDENT H.W. BUSE, JR. LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his sister, Janet Eckenroad Kerry pokeymouse@aol.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 19 Mar 2003
Last updated 01/11/2007