Ron Campsey – U.S Army 1967-69
Ron Campsey – U.S Army 1967-69
Ron Campsey grew up hearing stories about the Big Red One from his father who served with the Division during WWII. Ron followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Army and joining the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam in July of 1967. Ron was 25 years old and older than the other men in his unit, so he naturally took on a leadership role. “I was the point-man and the base load was ten magazines of M-14 ammunition. After my first firefight I ran out…I carried twenty magazines after that.”
While serving in Vietnam Specialist Ronald L. Campsey was awards The Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
Ron is currently the owner of the New Moon Café in East Quogue, NY.
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When people ask us, “what’s the most incredible story a Veteran has ever told you”, we usually mention Jim Blaylock telling us about being tossed in a body bag after being mistaken for dead.
"It was getting a bit warm and stuffy but it wasn’t long before we reached the mortuary and I was put on the cooler tray. When they opened the door and it was my time for the embalming the mortician had just made his incision and I bled a little, that was unusual and so he began to check my vital signs then they were able to get a slight pulse” - From Jim's interview (Sep 2019)