Vietnam War Era


A million tomorrows will all pass away, ‘er I forget ...Words from one of Maj. Fredrick Ransbottom’s favorite songs, “Today” L By Patty Miller


ike many young men in the 1960s, Fredrick Joel Ransbottom’s life was abruptly disrupted when his military draft number was called. Ransbottom honored his


obligation to his country and signed up for service with his best friend Clint Wheeler.


Like many young men in the 1960s, Ransbottom never returned home. These words, “Coming home,” are bittersweet for Laverne Ransbottom, mother of 1st Lt. Fredrick Joel Ransbottom.


Ransbottom is the last Oklahoman to 18 VETERAN FAMILY NETWORK h AUGUST 2011


be named a casualty of the 10-year-long Vietnam War, and his remains were fl own in JULY of 2006 to Honolulu from Vietnam, the fi rst leg of his journey back home to Edmond. From Honolulu they were sent to a lab for confi rmation where they awaited DNA identifi cation by the government. Then they were fl own home to his family. In the 38 years Freddy Joe, as he was known by his family and friends, has been unaccounted for, his father Fredrick Ransbottom has passed on. Ransbottom was the leader of a reconnaissance platoon known as


“Snoopy 6” with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Division, Americal. His platoon was defending a Special Forces airstrip at Kham Duc for which he received a Silver Star. The camp was strategically located near the Ho Chi Minh trail just 10 miles east of Laos. On Mother’s Day 1968, the airstrip came under the third day of heavy attack, and it was on this day that Ransbottom was listed as missing. “I can sit here and still remember that day,” Laverne Ransbottom said. “I remember thinking that he has to be alive; he can’t be dead, he is so young


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