WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Tears of joy and smiles of pride beamed from the crowd of family members as two local Vietnam veterans were honored for their legacy and ultimate sacrifice during a road dedication ceremony at Whiteman AFB, May 18.
“Today, we are not just renaming a road; we are restoring a legacy,” said the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight commander. “We are here to honor two American heroes, Maj. Milton Ramsey and 1st Lt. Russel Voris, who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Their connection to Missouri and their service to our nation are stories of courage that we are proud to permanently etch into the landscape of Whiteman AFB.”
Ramsey was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1937, a year when swing music dominated the radio and a gallon of gas cost 10 cents. He joined the Air Force in 1959 and later resided in Columbia, Missouri. Ramsey was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, a unit known as the “Dust Devils.” He piloted the CH-53C Sea Stallion helicopter which was vital for heavy-lift transport and recovery operations during the Vietnam War.
In the early morning of March 1, 1971, Ramsey and his co-pilot, Capt. Albert Tijerina, departed from Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, to deliver Laotian troops to the front lines of northern Laos. During the troop insertion, the aircraft was struck by enemy gunfire, causing the loss of one of its engines. Displaying remarkable skill, Ramsey and Tijerina were able to sustain flight and navigate away from enemy forces and toward friendly territory before the aircraft crashed. While the two flight engineers in the cabin were able to escape, both pilots were killed in action. Ramsey was remembered by his wife, Kathleen, and their four children, Pamela, Gary, Ron and Kathleen.
Born in Buffalo, Missouri, in 1946, Voris entered the world during the first full year of peace following World War II and the year Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in Fulton, Missouri. Voris graduated 18th in his class of 500 from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he also captained the lacrosse team. After graduation from the academy and completing pilot training, Voris was assigned to the 604th Special Operations Squadron in Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam. There, he piloted 75 successful air missions with the A-37 Dragonfly, a light-attack jet that was used for close air support, helicopter escorts and night interdiction.
On June 24, 1970, Voris’s aircraft was struck by hostile gunfire during a mission over Cambodia. He was retrieved by helicopter but succumbed to his injuries enroute to a hospital in South Vietnam. Voris was remembered by his parents, Paul and Eva, and his siblings, Paul and Judy.
The roads were originally dedicated to Ramsey and Voris on May 18, 1974; however, the road signs were taken down in the late 1980’s due to base construction in preparation for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
“The aircraft parked on our flightline today look very different from the CH-53 and the A-37 that these men once flew. The global threats we face have evolved since the Vietnam War,” said the 509th Mission Support Group commander. “But the courage, the readiness, and the absolute commitment to defending our nation remains exactly the same. Maj. Ramsey and 1st Lt. Voris set a standard of service before self that every Airman at Whiteman strives to uphold today.”
This road dedication is a small token of gratitude for two men who embodied the true definition of service before self and stands as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by many in the name of their country and our freedom.