William Francis Ridge

Corporal William Francis Ridge was born on October 11, 1949. His home of record is Gloucester City, NJ. He had two sisters, Catherine and Barbara, and two half-brothers, Harry J. and James F. Blymer. William was a graduate of Gloucester City High School where he was a member of the basketball and baseball teams. He worked as a clerk at the Penn Fruit Company store in Audubon, NJ, before entering the Army. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the Catholic Youth Organization.

William entered the Army in July 1967, and served with the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division where he attained the rank of Corporal. His tour of duty in Vietnam began on June 30, 1969.

On August 24, 1969, Ridge was killed in action in the vicinity of Cu Chi in Vietnam. He had been in Vietnam just one month.

A viewing for William was held at Parker-Martin Funeral Home. A high requiem mass was held at St. Mary’s Church in Gloucester, NJ, with interment at Harleigh Cemetery, Haddon Avenue, Camden, New Jersey.

Ridge was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. The citation reads:

While on a Reconnaissance Operation, Company D came in contact with a large enemy force in well-fortified positions with a Hedgerow. Immediately, Private Ridge maneuvered to a strategic position and began to place effective machine gun fire on the enemy position. Private Ridge, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to hostile fire as he placed a continuous maze of fire on the enemy position, silencing the position when several of his comrades were wounded. Private Ridge, again exposed himself to the hail of exploding projectiles to provide covering fire for the evacuation of the injured men. As he was moving to the intended pick up zone, he was fatally wounded by an enemy sniper.

William Francis Ridge is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 19W, Line 108.

I didn’t know this Hero but I just wanted to say “Thanks.” I am thankful that you answered the call to fight in a war that nobody really understood. I am sure that your loss caused great pain to your family and I hope that God has blessed them over the years and helped them endure your passing. God bless you! Rest in peace.

— Wade Lucas — August 24, 2005