Ralph D. Cato, USA, Vietnam Veteran, Kershaw, SC, 08 NOV 09 > Patriot Guard Forums - Americans Doing the Right Thing

Unanswered

Active Topics

Forums

Members

Forums > Mission Information > PGR - Archives

Subject: Ralph D. Cato, USA, Vietnam Veteran, Kershaw, SC, 08 NOV 09

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

Susan Sturgis User is Offline

Posts: 7212
Bear, DE
In Memory of Ed "Old Iron" Barrett

FORUM MODERATOR

06 Nov 2009 1:43 PM	Alert
Updated 07 Nov 09 1618 est S Sturgis Ralph D. Cato, US Army, Vietnam Veteran, Kershaw, SC, Sunday, 8NOV09 The Patriot Guard has the Honor of standing for Ralph D. Cato, US Army, Vietnam Veteran this Sunday. His son has requested our presence, and was disappointed that the Army was only sending a two man detail. His Dad, Ralph, was ok just 40 days when he started feeling bad and was diagnosed with cancer. Ralph D. Cato served in the United States Army during the Vietnam war from 1966-1969 and was Honorably Discharged as a PFC. He came back to an ungrateful Nation as a Disabled Veteran, but was very proud to have served his Country. Among his decorations and awards are: Vietnam Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device National Defense Service Medal Staging Information: Date/Time Sunday, 8NOV09 Location: Buffalo Baptist Church 6390 Lockhart Road Kershaw, SC Map: http://tinyurl.com/BuffaloBaptist-Kershaw Start Staging at 1:30pm Flagline up at 2:00 Interment on the ground after the Service. RCIC Wayne "Lenyaw" Lamon 803-622-3888 Co-RCIC Tom "CVFD144" Bellomy 803-338-0574 Yours in Service, Ron "Tater Salad" White South Carolina State Captain Patriot Guard Riders 843-860-3981

BootLady #34204 TOU Enforcement Agent "In God We Still Trust" Diamond Rio - Diamond Rio's Greatest Hits II "You may die with nothing, but if you have brought a rainbow into somebody else's life, your mission is complete."

Pepper_guy User is Offline

Posts: 10133
Lacey, WA

06 Nov 2009 2:06 PM	Alert
My sincere condolences and prayers to family and friends of Ralph D. Cato, U.S. Army / Vietnam Veteran. Mr. Cato, I am forever grateful for your service to our country. Your service and sacrifices will not be forgotten. You are a "TRUE AMERICAN HERO". May you Forever Rest in Peace.

Junius Henry PGR Member #10094

mailman

Posts: 22215
West Branch, MI - Michigan Regional Ride Captain Zephyrhills, FL - Florida Senior Ride Captain

06 Nov 2009 2:53 PM	Alert
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of US Army Vietnam Veteran Ralph D. Cato. Rest In Peace.

"Eyes on the olive branch, but arrows at the ready." Jim "mailman" US Army 1970 - 1972

sdoise

Posts: 8298
Kinder, La.

06 Nov 2009 3:03 PM	Alert
I am sincerely grateful for the military service of Ralph D. Cato to protect our freedom and preserve our way of life. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. Rest in peace.

Schelly "Toro" Ride Captain for Lake Charles, La. and surrounding area American Legion Post 318, Elton, La. DEFINITION OF A VETERAN A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." Author Unknown

Florida Shamrock User is Offline

Posts: 1335
West Central Florida

06 Nov 2009 3:25 PM	Alert
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ralph Cato. May you rest in peace my friend, wrapped in the loving arms of God Almighty. Thank you for your service to this great country. Vietnam 67-68 VFW Member Tan Son Nhut Association - tsna.org Retired Deputy Sheriff (27 years) Riding for POW/MIA’s - “You Are Not Forgotten” Weekly article (page 4) under “Military and Motorcycles” - northrivernewsonline.com "For those that have fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know" - U.S. Marine, Khe Sanh, 1968

Easy.

Posts: 5266
Jacksonville, NC Eastern Region Senior Ride Captain

06 Nov 2009 3:27 PM	Alert
My family and I would like to offer our Most Sincere Condolences to the family and friends of Ralph D. Cato, USA, Vietnam Veteran, Kershaw, SC,. Thank you for your Service. You are and will remain A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. We will hold you in our prayers. GOD BLESS, Barry (Easy) Bertolini

Ride Safe and GOD BLESS, BARRY (EASY) BERTOLINI PGR NC Eastern Region Senior Ride Captain Email: barryb_28546 @yahoo.com CMA Member (Christian Motorcycle Association) "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in...And how many want out. Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier..One died for our soul, the other for our freedom." PGR NC Calender PGR: NC MySpace

kbell

Posts: 2981
Jacksonville, Florida Ride Captain

06 Nov 2009 3:37 PM	Alert
My sincere condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Ralph D Cato. May your faith give you strength. May your memories give you comfort. May GOD'S love give you peace.

Karen (kerrybell) Trone If you are going to worry then don't pray... If you are going to pray then don't worry !! For I know the plans I have for you.... Jeremiah 29:11 Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.

sailor74

Posts: 183
OAK LAWN,IL

06 Nov 2009 4:37 PM	Alert
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF RALPH D. CATO,USA,VIETNAM VETERAN,YOU ARE AN AMERICAN HERO ! MAY YOU REST IN PEACE, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN !

IN MEMORY OF OVER 58,044 BROTHERS WHO NEVER RETURNED VIETNAM 62-75 ! PROUD BLUE STAR DAD !

Marv

Posts: 326
Ohio District 1 Ride Captain Edgerton,OH

06 Nov 2009 6:19 PM	Alert
My deepest condolences to the Cato family. May the Lord give you peace and comfort. Thank you for your service to our wonderful country. God Bless! Marv PGR - Ohio District 1 RC ALR - Director NorthWest Ohio Ohio American Legion Post 669

ROBERTRPEARMAN User is Offline

Posts: 5317
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY

07 Nov 2009 12:08 AM	Alert
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF VIETNAM VETERAN RALPH D. CATO (USA). OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. WELCOME HOME RALPH AND REST IN PEACE BROTHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ROBERT AND JUANITA

YOU ARE NEVER REALLY GONE UNTIL YOU ARE FORGOTTEN ROBERT R PEARMAN US AIR FORCE 1961 - 1965 AMERICAN LEGION VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS

monmixr

Posts: 1935
Bartlett, Illinois

07 Nov 2009 2:06 AM	Alert
My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this true American Hero. May the Lord give you strength and bring you peace in this time of sorrow.

Proud member of the often imitated never duplicated Illinois Patriot Guard Riders. Eric C. Kuhn Ride Captain Illinois Patriot Guard Riders In memory of CPT Steven M. Strickland B/3 AVN BN 15 SEP 1980 In memory of CW3 Donald G. Cicuzza Jr. In memory of Carl W. Kuhn WWII Vet. 1927-2009

Billboy

Posts: 5199
Webster, Fl.

07 Nov 2009 4:32 AM	Alert
My Sincere Condolences go out to Family and Friends of US Army, Vietnam Veteran, Ralph D. Cato, Though you will be missed you will not be forgotten, Thank you for your Service. Rest in Peace and God be with you. “You Will Forever Be Remembered” Bill Snelson (Billboy) US Army, Vietnam Veteran PGR Senior Ride Captain, Mentor Webster, Fl.

USN Senior Chief User is Offline

Posts: 3

07 Nov 2009 4:51 AM	Alert
Sincere condolences to the family. I will not be able to make this run for Ralph, but I assure you my heart and thoughts are with you. George Westbrook Senior Chief Petty Officer USN (Ret) Vietnam - 1970

vander177

Posts: 4554
Vandergrift, PA

07 Nov 2009 6:30 AM	Alert
Karen and I send our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of U.S. Army VietNam veteran Ralph D. Cato. We thank for your military service and sacrifices you made for this grateful nation in fighting terrorism and keeping peace worldwide. We thank you for our freedom. You may be gone, but, you will never be forgotten. The price of freedom is written on the WALL!

Ralph A. DeLorme, SFC, US Army, Retired PGR Western PA Veterans Liaison Patriot Guard Riders (#75,342), Ride Captain, Region 10, PA American Legion Riders, Post 820, Monroeville, PA GWRRA member - PA Chapter U DAV Life Member Riding in memory of Herbert Weltz - US Army - KIA 03-25-68 Riding in memory of our grandson Randy C. DeLorme - April 1986 - December 2001 ALL GAVE SOME - SOME GAVE ALL

sdfraser

Posts: 235
Watauga County, North Carolina

07 Nov 2009 7:34 AM	Alert
Thank you for your valiant service to this country, Ralph Cato. May you now know God's rest and peace. Condolences and prayers for the family and friends of this HERO.

Suz Standing in memory of: James Lee Dodd, Sr. USA, 1920's James Lee Dodd, Jr. USAAF, WWII, Korea Ward Franklin Fraser, 1960-1998 and in honor of: Ira Mundy Dodd, US Maritime Service and USA, WWII Jim Couch, USMC, Viet Nam Veteran Christopher Fraser, FL Sheriff's Deputy Michael Mundy Fraser, USMC, 2008

hbomb802

Posts: 71
Tuscumbia, AL

07 Nov 2009 8:11 AM	Alert
Good bye my brother. We failed to welcome you home as the HERO you are, but our Lord has welcomed you into your new eternal home. Your war is finally over... I extend my most sincere condolences to the family and friends. We have lost a Hero.

"Stand down soldier, your mission is now complete, may you rest in Honored Eternal Peace." 'We knew you for only a short time but we will never forget you. You gave your youth, your life, all that you had for your country. We can do no less in return than to preserve the memory of that sacrifice so that it will not be in vain. We pledge to do what ever we can to see to it that your loss will be counted among the last sacrifices that must be made on the altar of Mars, the ancient god of war. Till we meet again at roll call on the last firebase.' "No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation."- Douglas MacArthur "I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American." Daniel Webster (1782 - 1852) "In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons." Herodotus "And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died. Who gave that right to me." Lee Greenwood God please take care of our Heroes in Afganistan, Iraq or where ever they are. Watch over them and protect them during this time of danger. Bring them home safely away from harm's way. 'FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS' CHARSTON HESTON

mlmsan

Posts: 6966
Loganville, Georgia 30052

07 Nov 2009 8:21 AM	Alert
My sincere condolences to the Family and Friends of Ralph D. Cato, US Army, Vietnam Veteran. I pray God will give you comfort in your time of sorrow. I am grateful for Ralph D. Cato's, service to our Great Nation and greatly appreciate Him for my freedom. Ralph D. Cato, you are a true American Hero and will not be forgotten. Stand down Soldier, Your mission is complete. Job Well Done. May our Heavenly Father welcome You home to rest. Peace Be to Us All

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you". Larry "Sir Bear" & "Queen Mary" Sanderson sirbear@comcast.net 770-500-6895 Georgia PGR, Part of It, Proud of it. Georgia Mentor Team U.S Navy Vietnam - 66/67 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42 Blue Star Dad Patriot Guard Rider VFW Post 5290, Conyers GVVA Post 5,Conyers Riding In Memory of my Great Grand Father, John Perry Sanderson, Texas Calvary Regiment, Civil War. Father, PO1 Weldon A. Sanderson, WWII USN, Pacific Fleet. And in Honor of my Son, SSGT Michael W. Sanderson, Gulf, 2x Iraq, and Mt. Sinai, Egypt. U.S. Army now serving this Nation Proudly in Fort Benning, Georgia.

aoop

Posts: 3314
Vidor, Orange County, TX

07 Nov 2009 8:23 AM	Alert
Thank You Soldier.

James M. Richards Vidor,TX US Navy 1969-1972 Damage Control jmrichards@aoop.net http://www.myspace.com/stoneagegeek Travel in Memory of: Pvt Clinton Victor Richards, (Uncle) WWI, USA, KIA, GySgt Joseph B. Richards ,USMC, (Father) WWII, Deceased, SSgt Leroy Richards, USMC, (Uncle) WWII, Deceased, Pvt Dewitt E. Rabalais, USMC, Father in Law, Deceased, Col Gilbert Meibaum, USMC, VN, AO, SN Larry Slaymaker, USN, VN, KIA and each and every Brother and Sister who has worn the uniform and lifted their right hand to make the Promise to willingly die if need be to defend the freedoms of our Citizens and the innocents abroad. A Mother asked President Bush, "Why did my Child have to die in Afghanistan?" Another Mother asked President Kennedy,"Why did my Child have to die in Vietnam?" Another Mother asked President Truman, "Why did my Child have to die in Korea?" Another Mother asked President F.D. Roosevelt,"Why did my Child have to die at Iwo Jima ?" Another Mother asked President W. Wilson, "Why did my Child have to die on the battlefield of France ?" Yet another Mother asked President Lincoln,"Why did my Child have to die at Gettysburg ?" And yet another Mother asked President G.Washington, "Why did my Child have to die near Valley Forge?" Long, long ago a Mother (Mary) asked, "Heavenly Father, why did my Child have to die on a cross outside Jerusalim?" All the answers are so near the same. One died to save our Souls and the others died to protect our Freedoms.

Susan Sturgis User is Offline

Posts: 7212
Bear, DE
In Memory of Ed "Old Iron" Barrett

FORUM MODERATOR

07 Nov 2009 2:17 PM	Alert
UPDATE: Ride Captains added.

BootLady #34204 TOU Enforcement Agent "In God We Still Trust" Diamond Rio - Diamond Rio's Greatest Hits II "You may die with nothing, but if you have brought a rainbow into somebody else's life, your mission is complete."

cvfd144

Posts: 390
Ride Captain, Columbia SC

07 Nov 2009 2:25 PM	Alert
It will be an honor to stand for your Final Formation Ralph Cato. I thank you for your service to this great nation of ours during a time when serving wasn't given the respect it should have. Your service to America will not be forgotten and we will render you the honors you deserved when you returned from Vietnam. May God welcome you with open arms and may he grant peace to your family during their time of sorrow.

Tom Bellomy SC Ride Captain 1977 - 1997 Proud to have served! ET1(SW) USN Retired "No one has greater love than this, that someone should lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

Art SC

Posts: 6
Hopkins (Grtr Columbia Area) SC

08 Nov 2009 4:10 AM	Alert
It will be an honor for my wife, Meshelle, and I to stand in respect for PFC Ralph Cato as our very first mission as Patriot Guard Riders. Our sincere condolances go out to all of Ralph's family and friends at this unexpected passing of an honorable past guardian of our nation.

My family calls me Art, my friends call me "Cage." "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Sir Winston Churchill "It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." - Henry Ward Beecher

chunter61

Posts: 167
Columbia, SC

09 Nov 2009 7:07 AM	Alert
My sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Ralph D. Cato. Thank you, Mr. Cato, for your service to our great nation. Thank you for standing up and protecting our freedom. You will not be forgotten. May you rest in peace.

Chris Hunter

Art SC

Posts: 6
Hopkins (Grtr Columbia Area) SC

09 Nov 2009 4:17 PM	Alert
Shelle and I had the honor of standing for "Doug" (as Ralph Cato's family called him). It was the first mission for both of us. The turn out for Doug was large with family and friends. Old Glory and the US Army flag flew at graveside and both could be waving in the breeze from our vantage point on the steps of the church. I'd had the privilege of being in Honor Guards and a Flag Presenter while active duty many a sad time. But it was different this time standing in as representative citizen of this country for PFC Cato in showing our past appreciation and present last respects for your duty. Doug obviously came from a close knit community and many spoke of his love of music, playing his guitar and writing songs. But I failed to hear anyone neglect to speak of his great love of country. We were all proud we had the opportunity to show he was and is not now alone in that aspect. The experience was all new for my wife Shelle and sometimes overwhelming as I saw tears flow down her cheeks for this hero, unknown to our memories, but sitting close in our hearts. As the sun fell low in the sky Taps failed to play as we stood saluting at the fringe of graveside...a mechanical glitch as such things are want to happen. But memories from my long ago days as a Boy Scout came to me strong and I softly and haltingly sang the words that only my wife standing with her flag beside me could hear. I felt her look at me not knowing if it might be appropriate. But it felt right and we both wept for this fallen brother in arms and his family. Day is done ... Gone the sun ... From the lakes ... From the hills ... From the sky ... All is well ... Safely rest ... God is nigh... Fading light ... Dims the sight ... And a star ... Gems the sky... Gleaming bright ... From afar... Drawing nigh ... Falls the night .. Thanks and praise ... For our days ... Neath the sun ... Neath the stars ... Neath the sky ... As we go ... This we know ... God is nigh ... Go now to your reward soldier. The sun has set. The lamps turned out. Your duty is done. Play a new song and rest with your Father. And know you are not forgotten by family, by friends, by your countrymen and women and certainly not by the Band of Brothers with which you served. Lead the way for all of us PFC Cato! We've got your six! Our deepest condolences again to the Cato family and friends. Thank you for the honor of letting us stand with honor and respect for with your loved one...PFC Ralph "Doug" Cato.

My family calls me Art, my friends call me "Cage." "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Sir Winston Churchill "It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." - Henry Ward Beecher

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Forums > Mission Information > PGR - Archives > Ralph D. Cato, USA, Vietnam Veteran, Kershaw, SC, 08 NOV 09

ActiveForums 3.6