By Tracy Gupton
OLD COLUMBIA CEMETERY is the resting place of World War II hero Charles Frank “Chickie” Ringgold, who was killed in action in July of 1944. Today, on Memorial Day 2024, we honor Chickie’s heroism on the battlefield. He left West Columbia High School early to join the Marine Corps and “gallantly gave his life for his country” at the youthful age of 19, according to a letter from the President of the United States sent to his parents in West Columbia. In bestowing the Navy Cross posthumously to Charles F. Ringgold, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote to James Wyatt Ringgold Sr. and Nellie Adelia Chamblee Ringgold that their son was being honored “for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, First Provincial Marine Brigade, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam in the Mariana Islands on July 24, 1944. Wounded while countering the enemy’s first attempt to penetrate our lines that night, Private First Class Ringgold proceeded to the rear where he received medical treatment, then returned voluntarily to the flank position occupied by his machine gun squad. Steadfastly remaining at his post throughout the night, he repeatedly fought off the persistent efforts of the Japanese troops to infiltrate his position and succeeded in killing two of the enemy before succumbing to his wounds.”
Born in West Columbia, Texas, on May 9, 1925, Charles Frank Ringgold was the son of a World War I veteran. The Japanese had taken control of the Island of Guam a few days after their surprise attack on the American Naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Chickie Ringgold was one of 1,747 American soldiers killed in the successful attempt to reclaim control of Guam in July of 1944. “By his tireless vigilance, indomitable fighting spirit and determined fortitude, PFC Ringgold was largely responsible for the successful defense of his position,” his parents read in the letter announcing their son had been honored with a Navy Cross, “and his great personal valor and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of ruthless, unceasing opposition reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval service.” The West Columbia American Legion post is named the Mattson-Ringgold post in memory of the great sacrifices made during World War II by Charles F. Ringgold and Johnnie Ralph Mattson of West Columbia. Today, on Memorial Day, the sacrifices of their lives in defense of their country and the American way of life are remembered with immense gratitude.
“HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY” is the closing sentence written on a proclamation delivered from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the parents of fallen soldier Charles Frank Ringgold in West Columbia, Texas, in 1944. Current Columbia Cemetery Association Board Member Freda Covington Fondon recalls attending Chickie Ringgold’s memorial service at Old Columbia Cemetery when she was a little girl. It took a long time for the Purple Heart and Silver Star winner’s remains to be returned to his hometown for a proper burial, Fondon said. Private First Class Ringgold and Sergeant Norman Lanell Whitaker are American soldiers buried at Old Columbia Cemetery in West Columbia who sacrificed their lives in battle. America honors them and the thousands and thousands of others like them today on Memorial Day. Whitaker, born on February 3, 1931, in Mount Enterprise, Rusk County, Texas, the son of Samuel Norman Whitaker (1905-1984) and Tena “Tennie” McComb Whitaker (1911-2003), was killed in action in Kumsong, Korea on August 7, 1952. Sgt. Whitaker was a field artillery cannoneer with the 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 40th Infantry Division, of the U.S. Army. He and fellow West Columbian Charles Frank Ringgold received posthumous Purple Hearts for their acts of valor in time of war. Sgt. Whitaker also received a Silver Star. Purple Heart winner Ringgold is buried near both of his parents and several siblings at Old Columbia Cemetery. Sgt. Norman Whitaker, also buried at Columbia Cemetery, is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. All these many years later these two brave soldiers are not being forgotten by those from their hometown and today, on Memorial Day, we salute Charles Frank Ringgold and Norman Lanell Whitaker for their ultimate sacrifice in service to our great country.
Today, May 27, 2024, at 5 p.m. a special memorial ceremony will be conducted at the Sands Weems Pavilion behind the West Columbia American Legion Hall to honor the many brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle to keep our great country free. “In Honor of Our Fallen Comrades” reads the monument next to the American Legion Hall in West Columbia where the names of those who gave their lives for their country are listed. Killed In Action from the West Columbia area, many of whom walked the halls of old West Columbia High School on the current campus of Republic Plaza and played basketball and boxed inside the old gym that is now Heritage Hall, were:
Johnnie Ralph Mattson, Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy, missing in action on November 25, 1942, aboard the ship the USS Asheville in the Philippines. The West Columbia American Legion Post was named in honor of both Johnnie Ralph Mattson and Charles Frank Ringgold.
Sidney A. Curtis, Private First Class in the U.S. Army, 315 Infantry, 9th Division, killed in action in the Netherlands during World War II, on March 24, 1945.
Harley Benjamin Kennemer, B-17 Gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps, killed in action in Germany on January 11, 1944. Harley was born in Brazoria County, Texas, August 25, 1919, and received a Purple Heart Medal after his plane was attacked by two enemy fighter planes and crashed on a mission to Oschersleben, Germany. He was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps 401st Bomber Group and is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France.
Thomas Bryant Kilsby, U.S. Navy, killed in action during World War II in May, 1942.
Warren Allen “Buddy” Lee, sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, killed in action in Belgium during World War II on April 28, 1944.
Elwood Maris, U.S. Navy, died aboard the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Japanese attack of the United States Naval Station on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was the event that forced President Roosevelt’s hand in totally involving America in World War II and resulted in the deaths of so many young men from the United States like these mentioned from the West Columbia area. Elwood Maris has relatives buried at historic Columbia Cemetery in West Columbia.
Floria L. Clark, Private First Class in the U.S. Army Company E, 319 Infantry Division, killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in Germany on February 20, 1945.
James Edward Anderson, Private First Class in the U.S. Army who was killed in action during the Korean War on July 16, 1951.
Ralph Henry Gardner, Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action in Korea on April 16, 1951.
Glen L. Gray, sergeant in the U.S. Army, killed in action during the Korean War on August 1, 1950.
Thomas Ferguson of Damon, Private First Class in the U.S. Army, killed in action on his birthday March 11, 1968, in Vietnam.
Edward Hoelewyn, U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class, killed in action in Vietnam on June 14, 1964.
Joe Michael Moran, U.S. Army Warrant Officer, killed in action in Vietnam on April 4, 1968.
John A. Nevels of Wild Peach, U.S. Army Specialist 4, 9th Infantry Division, killed in action in Vietnam on February 18, 1968.
Frank Levi Swinford III, Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action at Quang Tin, Vietnam, on September 6, 1967.
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