Ramsey, Ernest, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
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Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

     Ernest Ramsey was born in Fluker and grew up in the Sixth
Ward of St. Helena Parish.  He attended local schools.

     Ernest farmed for many years.  He was drafted on December 6,
1943 and was inducted into the Navy.  He did not want to enter
the Navy but was given no choice in the matter.  Stewart Watson
was drafted at the same time and into the Navy, too.  Stewart
was not too keen on the Navy either.  They were told they needed
some men in the Navy.

     Basic training was at Great Lakes, Illinois.  He was then
sent to bases near Oakland and San Francisco, California to the
Supply Depot.

     Ernest became seriously ill and lost use of his left arm
and leg.  He remained in the hospital for five months.  Because
of his illness, he never served overseas.  He was discharged at
the New Orleans Naval Hospital on January 29, 1945.

     It was noted on his discharge that at the time of his dis-
charge Ernest was a Seaman 1st Class, his was "honorable service"
and he received a discharge button.

     Following his discharge, Ernest returned to St. Helena
Parish and enrolled in "On-Farm Training" through the Veterans
Administration GI Bill.  His health was still poor and he could 
not perform the strenuous work required to operate a farm.  He
quit and was able to get a job working for Continental Can Com-
pany in New Orleans.  This was assembly type work and Ernest was
able to sit down to perform this work.  He was comfortable with
this job and stayed with the Company until he retired in March
1975.  He then returned to St. Helena to make his home.

     Ernest married Miss LuBerta Ford on November 1, 1931 and
they are the parents of seven children (only four are living
now) and 13 grandchildren.  He said they had five children at
the time he was drafted and could not understand why he was not
deferred because of this.

     Mrs. Ramsey is totally blind and is unable to do anything
for herself.  Ernest cares for her with the help from Home
Health Service.  She enjoys listening to the television and 
radio.

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