PFC Ronald J. Puskarcik
Hometown – Campbell, Mahoning County, Ohio
Conflict – Vietnam War
KIA – July 18, 1968
Quang Nam province, South Vietnam
PFC Ronald Joseph Puskarcik, US Marine Corps, was born September 19, 1949 to Carl Puskarcik (US Army Air Corps 1942-1946) and Helen Dubaj Puskarcik. He had five siblings – Joann, Carl, Kenny (born and died April 1956), Sandra and Denise. Ron was just 18 years old when he was killed in action in Vietnam on July 18, 1968.
Ronnie with his father, Carl “Kayo” Puskarcik.
Ron’s Boyhood Days in Campbell, Ohio
Ron grew up in Campbell, Ohio; attended St. John Polish Catholic School and graduated from Campbell Memorial High School. He also was a member of St. Joseph the Provider Church. In his days as a youth, Ron was an altar boy and a Boy Scout. In high school, he belonged to the Hi-Y, the track team and was a baseball manager. Ron loved music, high school dances, swimming at Roosevelt Park and going to Mill Creek Park for picnics with his classmates. He often took his younger sisters to Idora Park. Growing up in a Polish and Slovak family, polkas were often on the radio and he learned to play the accordion and performed, with his brother and younger sisters, with a Polish Dance Troupe for several years.
Ron Falls in Love
At the young age of 17 he was lucky to fall in love with the girl of his dreams, Ruth Gonzales. They went to the Senior Prom and enjoyed going to the Sky-Hi Drive-In in Lowellville. Before he left for basic training, he gave Ruth a “promise ring” vowing to return.
Ron Chooses to Enlist
Ron voluntarily enlisted with the US Marine Corps after hearing a recruitment presentation at Campbell Memorial High School his senior year. He graduated in June 1967 and joined the Marines in September. He attended basic training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina then headed to Camp Pendleton, California for guerrilla warfare training.
Ron’s Last Christmas with His Family
In December 1967 he took a Greyhound bus from North Carolina to Youngstown for what would be his last Christmas with his family.
Ron, the Marine
In April, Ron made the trek to Vietnam serving with the C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division. It was on Friday, June 28, 1968 at the height of the war, when Ron volunteered to lead a 5-man advance team into the jungles of DaNang, Vietnam to clear the way for his fellow Marines. With that brave decision…life changed, life ended.
The Knock on the Door
Ron had stepped on a mine and nearly died on the site, but managed to hang on for nearly three weeks. The Marines sent specially trained soldiers to inform the family of the devastating news and continued every day to give them updates. Those days seemed to last an eternity, especially because no family, no friend, no loved one could be by Ron’s side. The last time the Marines knocked on the door of his boyhood home was to tell of his passing on Thursday, July 18 after being transferred to Guam. The way they walked up the long driveway the family knew what those soldiers would have to tell them. It is a moment, a time, a feeling that Ron’s family remembers all too well.
Ron was Mahoning County’s 57th death of the Vietnam War and the City of Campbell’s third.
Compassionate. Brave. Grateful. Forever 18.
Ron was always a kind and gentle soul. His heart was big and his smile was sincere. Ron was never one to boast or feel the need to demonstrate his strength. It wasn’t until his family began to receive his letters from Vietnam that they learned more about their son…brother…classmate…community member…friend.
He worried about his soon to be college graduate sister going to teach in “New York that rough state”… and he offered to help her buy a car.
He was honest, frightened and compassionate…” I’m back on the Island and it’s pretty secure but when I went on that operation for 4 days I was scared. We lost a lot of men (boys) out there and a lot got wounded. My squad I’m in lost 3 so we only have 7 left and they’re 3 pretty good friends of mine. Jim came out ok. It’s hard to explain but war is hell.”
His last letter was dated May 23, 1968. Dear Family…I’m going out to the field for 6 days…don’t worry...I sure do miss them (younger sisters) and when I come home I’ll make it up to them…Carl if you need some money to fix the car I’ll try to get it to you…I’ll try to get something for Joann for her graduation…Hey Dad I think of you as a strong and smart man & I have a lot of respect for you…Mom, I’m so glad you and Ruth are getting along so good because you and her are the best things I got in life…I think Ruth and I are getting married when I get home…I want my family to be as happy as our family…I’ll write as soon as possible…
Lest We Forget
“We promised each other at the last (family) reunion that whomever was left of we three cousins would carry the memories forward. I gladly do so, although with heavy heart.”
“My cousin, SSGT Paul Dubaj III US Army Airborne Cavalry (Huey gunship crew chief in Vietnam) remembering our cousin PFC Ron Puskarcik, USMC Rifleman, who died of wounds a few weeks after stepping on an IED in Quang Nam on July 18, 1968. Paul is pointing at Ronnie's name on the Travelling Wall. This is for Paul also, who died of bone cancer after exposure to Agent Orange many years later.
We promised each other at a family reunion in 1967 that we would always remember.
Memorial Day is for these memories.... Lest We Forget.”
Mike Dunlap, cousin and childhood friend
Ronnie Still Stands Tall
“Speaking for both Chico Medina and myself, it was our honor and privilege to become Marines alongside our HERO Ronnie. Whenever we hear the Marine Corp Hymn or the National Anthem, we are sure Ronnie still stands tall alongside us and salutes. We will always be a step behind our true HERO Ronnie. Semper Fi.”
Al Dulovich, childhood friend
Cousin Paul Dubaj paying his respects at The Wall.