Black Lion KIA- Ralph Carrasco, Battle of Ong Thanh, Vietnam, 1967 (Robert Cuenca/Rick Griggs)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2021
- This stirring tribute honors a fallen soldier who fully believed in the motto, "leave no man behind." While outnumbered ten-to-one during a Viet Cong ambush in October 1967, Ralph H. Carrasco, slowed and stopped to pick up a fallen member of his company. A fatal shot ended the young soldier's life. For the family, friends and brothers-in-arms who live on, this tribute is to remember Ralph's bravery, his commitment to a cause, and the lost potential this soldier was never able to realize.
This short video showcases vibrant photos of young soldiers' camaraderie, readiness to serve and devotion to country during the Vietnam War. The 'ambush' at the Battle of Ong Thanh pitted 150 Black Lions against 1,500 battle hardened Viet Cong--many of the same soldiers who had defeated the French in the previous decade. The enemy had been looking for rice in the area and would have departed had they found food.
The Battle of Ong Thanh took place one day before the anti-war protest movement turned violent at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both are chronicled in the book, "They Marched into Sunlight" by Pulitzer Prize winning author David Maraniss. Brig. Gen. James Shelton, USA (Ret.) wrote the book, "The Beast Was Out There," and PBS did a special, "Two Days in October," exposing the debacle near the river Ong Thanh on that fateful October day.
Video: • Vietnam War Battle o...
May our fallen troops RIP.
God bless your whole family.
I live across the street from the carrasco family...I know his sister and his brother Al.
Your sacrifice is NOT forgotten!... We support our boys through and through... I'm sorry things turned out the way they did, genuinely I am
May you rest in peace
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This is a beautiful and sad tribute to Ralph. We lost a lot of men that day. I was with Delta Company and wounded in the fire fight. Rest in peace brother Ralph.
Thank you for your comments. Thank you for your service
I have a deep fascination with Nam...waaaay before I was born, i was born in 83' ... heavily into signing up...as a kid/ motivator I'd watch all the old army movies and, most were about Vietnam. When i found out that the people who lice across the street from me had a brother who lost his life over there, i instantly wanted to know as much as i can.... I'm not writing a news article... purely out of RESPECT!!! 💪
I talked to patty about it....she said she just cried....she said Ralph had a friend who made it back and would bring a beer and leave it at his grave... Damm... would have loved to have the honor to meet this man, and posthumously shake his hand with the greatest sense of layalty and respect as i could....like I said Sir, you are NOT forgotten
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This was Oct. 17, 1967. I was there, overhead near the end of the battle. I was the door gunner for MG John Hay on his Huey, the Longhorn 77. He was the commanding general of the 1st Infantry. A sad day. I don't remember all the details clearly anymore, but it was an ambush, and something like 65 dead and 75 wounded - all within about 2 hours. God bless the Black Lions.
Thanks to so many who gave so much and bless the families who lost those gallant young soldiers . I was there and blessed with a return to my family.
As Ralph Carrasco's baby sister, I wrote this tribute in 2012 and I would be honored if you would read it. As follows and thank you:
When I was a little girl, I would always see Ralph carrying his guitar around everywhere he went. He especially loved to be with his musical family when playing his guitar. I truly believe my brothers Johnny and Al became such accomplished musicians directly from Ralph’s inspiration. Ralph inspired us all and made us want to be far better people.
Ralph’s melodic personality extended to more than just music. He was a wonderful son and brother to me and to my brothers and sister, Patsy. An extremely protective big brother, his commanding presence was rarely challenged. Ralph was truly a force to be reckoned with, here at home and as a soldier in Vietnam.
Ralph even played tremendous high school football. To this day, his classmates remember how “Bad” Ralph was at football. Our mom is a football fan today due to Ralph’s influence. His sometimes ferocious disposition earned him the nickname “Madman” in our neighborhood. I’m sure it served him well in Vietnam. Mike Arias says Ralph was one hell of a soldier. Thanks Mike, we appreciate and believe that!
I remember a wedding our family attended at the Abel Hall and I saw Ralph ask the prettiest bridesmaid there to dance and I remember seeing him do the splits on the dance floor and thinking WOW! No one there could match Ralph’s magnetism.
His letters from Vietnam showed how his writing reflected his deep love and affection for his family. Due to his colorful, melodic persona, he had an enormous number of friends here at home. It’s been almost 45 years since he died so bravely yet people still remember him and his accomplishments. We miss him terribly but are so proud of him.
Ralph is an amazing combination of charisma and humanity, fierceness and strength with compassion and tenderness. His best friend, Mike Arias, told me stories about how Ralph was the one soldier with the wisecrack to make everyone laugh and keep everyone’s spirits up. Our mom, Delphina Carrasco, told me that she totally believes that about him. Ralph would even sing in the field, Mike tells me. Ralph will always sing in our hearts.
You brighten Ralph's memory with your stories and obvious love for him.
Dear Olga ...I know you will never read this ( R.I.P.) ...and things being as they are, I'll never get a chance to meet your brother..but I did become pretty close with Patsy living across the street from her and really close with Al other brother...I was even blessed to talk briefly with your father...by then his older age had made it semi difficult to have very long talks but the honor of meeting a veteran from WW2!! I mean WOW!.. I even told my Dad about your Dad....my Dad said most people could care less. I'm not most people... I got to meet some of your family and I think they're good people... I'm sorry for what happened... May God bless you generationally!
Our heart's go out to you💕
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RIP Spec4 Ralph Carrasco, I still think of my ol' crew chief that I would fly mortar patrol missions with at night. His name was Spec 4 Marion Tapp, he was assigned to 2/20 Artillery Brn. 1st Cavalry Div. I had just flown with him the night bf, but I had my hours in.....so I opted out that fateful night. The entire crew perished that night after refueling in the LZ Sharon POL. May they all RIP.
This was tremendous. What a wonderful tribute.
That is both beautiful and extremely heartbreaking. Made me tear up. Thank you to all who died in battle. We thank and love you all. Thank you Ralph. You will always be remembered and will be in our hearts.
Black Lions was a very proud unit with an unparalleled lineage!
Excellent presentation of this man's life and times . His bravery will live on as long as there is America.
My dad is a Vietnam vet and survivor. He can back a different man..as a former Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan I also lost many friends I knew and some to suicide...I still feel sad and survived but my friends didn't
My uncle john Macleod was a black lion got ambushed on a mission was severely wounded
Beautiful Tribute to one of our Hero's.
Welcome home hombre 🙏 ❤️
The picture of his parents accepting his medals was absolutely heartbreaking. The look on his mom’s face is telling. That’s a kind of grief I never want to become acquainted with. RIP hero.
No parent ever does.
I lost my beautiful brother at 36. My dad lost his firstborn - born on his birthday. I have no idea how he didn't die of grief the next day.
A very beautiful and sad memorial.
Ralph Carrasco
Panel 28e Line20
If anyone knows his family, tell them I will remember him.
Bahn - Yes. Did you know Ralph?
I am his baby sister. Thank you for remembering my beloved brother. We will never forget him.
To those of us who were of draft age during the Vietnam War this beautiful tribute to a true hero brings back all the sadness, and anger, about the waste of 58,000 lives...nearly all of them kids, our contemporaries....our friends. Ralph should be bouncing his grandchildren on his knee today, as should Jack Hardy, Arlin Collins, Butch Tomek, Mark Amann and my other friends sacrificed to the god of war, and the stupidity of politicians. May they all rest in peace, and may their sacrifices teach us to never again enter an unnecessary and unwillable war.
Sorry for your losses. I can't imagine.
One of the most amazing men I ever met was an ex Vietnam soldier.
I don't know much of his story, but he very respectfully, and gently, (at a book presentation which didn't have anything to do with the war) corrected the Author about something she had stated regarding the anti- war protests. So, how it all came about is another story.
I happened to be sitting right next to him.
After it was over, I thanked him, and many others thanked him. Then we found out one little bit of his story, which made him like a Saint to me.
I felt like a peon compared to what he had gone through, and how amazingly calm and "together" he was.
He somehow had the wits, good therapy, who knows what to go through hell, and still be, or become such a beautiful man.
Bless them all.
In peace.
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I couldn't agree more
I'm sorry 😔
Very Moved.
Thank you for your comment on Ralph Carrasco
The 28th are the “Black Lions of Cantigny”….I don’t know the 16ths motto🤔
His entry on The Virtual Wall shows him w the 1/16th
Brave men... But sadly the US war in Vietnam had nothing to do with defending the Nation or Freedom. For the Vietnamese the war was the exact opposite of that.
I can't watch it all... I'm sorry....
What a waste ..... Ralph's friend Richard told me before he passed ...i asked him what was the point of all of that ...he said it was greed! ...
So sad ....
What a waste
You know during the Vietnam War there were a lot case of US ground troops commit a lot of attrocities toward many South Vietnamese villagers during their "Search and Destroy Mission." Many were never reported and a lot was being covered up by US General William Childs Westmoreland. There were many US ground troops saw the attrocities done by their fellow American troops and did nothing. While other participate. Vietnamese peoples were the victim of the Vietnam War. Even though many Vietnamese didn't start the War and didn't ask for it. That was the decision by the American peoples who voted for Democrats President JF Kennedy and LB Johnson as their Commander in Chief for their country. And Democrats President Truman who brought Communist support to Vietnam by allowing and supporting France to reclaim Vietnam as their colony. A country who value their freedom and independence from England. Deny other country of their own. America has never a democracy country. America is a Republic.
RIP
3rd Batt. 7th Marines ChuLai,RVN 10/65-11/66
Rafael Carrasco
D:E:P