Record date:
Lon Ramsey, Lieutenant, US Navy
After training with the Naval ROTC for four years in college, Lon Ramsey dedicated his service to the United States Navy during World War II.
Lon Ramsey was born in Davenport, Iowa in 1920. In his interview, he explains the pleasure of being raised in a small town with his parents and two siblings.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Lon’s father owned his own advertising agency. With the help of his father’s optimism, his family was able to stay positive during the hard economic times. After high school, he attended Northwestern University, where he joined the Naval ROTC. He explains he chose the ROTC program over gym class, and he did not join with the intention of committing to the military long-term—little did he know, he had a future in the navy.
Lon was still in college during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and 6 months later—after 4 years of ROTC training—he was shipped off to the South Pacific for more training on the USS Mississippi in 1942. Eventually, he joined the USS Yorktown, making his first stop at Pearl Harbor. There, he became a Junior Officer of the Deck, where he was part of the Gunnery Department. About a year and a half later, he became a full lieutenant and the Officer of the Deck at Battle Stations, where he worked closely with the captain.
His first stop after Pearl Harbor was Ulithi, and his first sight of combat was near New Zealand and Australia. Of the many battles he fought in the Pacific, he claims that the battle at Truk Atoll was one of the most important battles for the United States. He also mentions an encounter with a Japanese suicide bomber—one of the most vivid memories from his service. Luckily, the unexpected bomber was unable to crash his ship.
Lon was discharged from the Navy September 25, 1944. After the war, he went to work for his dad’s advertising agency in Chicago, but after realizing advertising was not the right business for him, he quit the industry altogether. He later started his own company, which his son-in-law now runs. In the end, Lon feels very fortunate to have served, and he believes the military made him a more appreciative and selfless person.
