RISON -- Surrounded by family members, dozens of friends and well-wishers, Cordy A. Ramer Jr. of Fordyce received six long-overdue medals Wednesday afternoon for his service during World War II.
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U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman presented the medals to Ramer, 95, at an assisted living facility in Rison, where the veteran is recuperating from a recent illness.
"I have a deep appreciation for each and every one of you, and I thank you all for coming out here today," Ramer said, fighting back tears and stroking the hand of his wife of 72 years, Evelyn, who stood beside him as he sat. "I love every one of you."
Westerman presented Ramer with the World War II Victory Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, an American Campaign Medal, and Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, a Prisoner of War Medal and a World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.
"On this 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 70th anniversary of Lt. Ramer's liberation from the German POW camp, I am proud to present Lt. Ramer with these medals," Westerman said. "And on behalf of a grateful state and nation, thank you for your service and sacrifice."
Westerman continued: "[Ramer] is really part of the greatest generation, because we realize the contributions he and others made. They truly are the greatest generation. It's fantastic to be here to celebrate the service of a real hero."
Ramer said he flew 29 missions and 175 combat hours during his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
On his 29th mission, Ramer said he was on one of six planes that were shot down by the Germans during a bombing run. His pilot, co-pilot, radio operator, top turret gunner and ball turret gunner were all killed.
Before dying, the pilot ordered the remaining four servicemen to bail out at about 25,000 feet. Ramer landed in a field near a small German village, breaking his ankle.
Ramer recounted that the townspeople met him with pitch forks, shovels, hoes and clubs, roughing him up before he was turned over to German authorities. He said he spent three nights sleeping on a wooden platform, using a block of wood as a pillow.
The Germans wrapped Ramer's broken ankle with a piece of gauze, then transferred him to Frankfort for interrogation. Shortly after, he said he was transferred to the German Army and sent to a prison camp called Stalag Luftl in Northern Germany, which housed about 2,000 airmen.
He spent nine months as a prisoner of war before the Russians liberated him.
Ramer was eventually sent to France, then was discharged from the Army on Dec. 31, 1945, to rejoin his wife, Evelyn, and their young son.
Ramer went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas and eventually settled in Fordyce. He and Evelyn went on to have two more sons.
John Ramer said Wednesday that he spent several weeks working with Westerman's office to ensure that his father received the medals due to him. His father previously hadn't gotten the medals because of missing paperwork, he added.
"I was told that the place that held his records burned after the war," John Ramer said.
"I am just proud that I was able to do this for my father. He deserves these medals, and I wanted to make sure we got them for him while he was still around."
After Westerman spoke, Rison Mayor Vernon Dollar praised Ramer and other veterans in attendance, saying that there "are so many others out there who never received the medals they deserve.
"I thank the congressman for helping make a difference in that regard. And I want to thank Mr. Ramer, because without him and others fighting during World War II, we wouldn't have the freedom we enjoy today."
After the ceremony, John Ramer stood with his parents as the crowd that had gathered applauded. Through tears, John Ramer said he was thankful to God for allowing his father to come home from the war.
"He met this woman right here, and he made a wonderful family," John Ramer said. "He has made such an impact on so many, and I am just so thankful for this day. It means so much to all of us."
State Desk on 09/03/2015