World War II
-
MIA
Fallen

Pleasant Lake, ND

County:
Benson

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Navy

Rank:
COX

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
USS Lexington

Medals and Honors:
Silver Star

Circumstances:

He was killed in action on 8 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. He was credited with downing 26 Japanese aircraft that day before he was killed.

Biography:

Born on 2 January 1919 in Pleasant Lake, he enlisted in the Navy from California on 21 May 1936 and reported for duty on USS Lexington on 8 October 1936. During the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942, Coxswain Ramsden, a member of Lexington's crew throughout his career, remained at his exposed station, despite wounds, continuing to operate a rangefinder in the face of intense Japanese strafing and dive-bombing attacks until he died. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. USS Ramsden (DE-382) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down March 26, 1943 by the Brown Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, Texas; launched May 24, 1943; sponsored by Mrs. James L. Ramsden, mother of Coxswain Ramsden; and commissioned October 19, 1943, Lt. Comdr. J. E. Madacey, USCG, in command. The photo shows his parents and grandparents at the christening of the ship named in his honor.