Captain Ralph Warren Caspole

                      

He may be gone, but he is not forgotten – On this day June 3, 1966. Marine Captain Ralph Warren Caspole-33, an A-4B Skyhawk Pilot, was killed in action while serving with Marine Attack Squadron 223 based in Chu Lai, South Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. Captain Caspole qualified as a rifle and pistol sharpshooter. He was born on March 21, 1933 and died on June 3, 1966 at the age of 33 Years old and 2 Months. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Catherine Deekens (Pendleton) Caspole, his mother and father Adelaide and Ralph H. Capsole, and he was brother of John Caspole of Ballwin, Missouri and Mrs. Edwin (Deborah) Donnelly III of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Captain Caspole was born in Quincy, Massachusetts and attended North Quincy Junior High. During the summer months he would stay in Falmouth with his family and would work at a local gas station. His family's summer home was located at 20 Boston Street and Great Bay Road in Falmouth.

In 1951 his family moved to 33 Norton Street, Braintree where he then attended Thayer Academy. After a few years at Thayer, he left and ended up graduating from New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire. He then attended the oldest private military college in the US, Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont. In 1954, he joined the United States Marine Corps and experienced Parris Island as an enlisted man.

Being in the Marines was a perfect fit for him. He was in the enlisted ranks for a time and then decided he wanted to be an officer. He enrolled in the Marine Corps Enlisted Commission Program and was sent to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. There he received his Second Lieutenant Commission and learned how to lead in front of one of the most revered fighting forces in America. It was at Quantico where he met his wife Catherine and was married on August 31, 1963 in a Marine Corps Officers’ Ceremony, crossed swords and all. Catherine went on to be a school teacher and never remarried.

Later in his career he was given a choice between serving in the grunts or becoming a pilot. He chose the latter and was transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola Florida where he learned how to fly helicopters

Captain Caspole would then join Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) which was the squadron responsible for flying the President of the United States. Here he would fly the Sikorsky Choctaw UH-34 Helicopter. On occasion he would fly President Eisenhower and was one of the regular pilots that flew President John F. Kennedy, especially during the Cuban missile crisis. It was told to me that he knew the Cape so well that he was often selected to fly JFK to his Hyannis Compound. (After the crew would drop off JFK in Hyannis, he and his crew would visit his mother Ada in Teaticket for some beer and lobsters.) Not content with flying helicopters he would seek orders to further put his love of flying to task. He would return to Pensacola, Florida where he learned how to fly the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk Jet. This was a single seat aircraft powered by a J65 turbojet engine that could fly just below the speed of sound. This aircraft was agile and small but a heavy lifting attack jet that carried sidewinder missiles and had two 20 millimeter cannons that could deliver powerful blows to any enemy ground troupe activity.

He was then transferred to VMA-211 (Wake Island Avengers) who were in El-Toro Ca. This unit left El Toro in May 1965 and was transferred to Iwakuni, Japan for intensive training that would include deployments to both Okinawa and the Philippines. Captain Caspole was then transferred to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Staff in Da Nang. In December 1965, VMA-223 arrived at the Chu Lai Air Base in South Vietnam. This base consisted of Marston Mat (steel planking) which was rolled out over a very sandy Chu Lai. For all practical purposes, Chu Lai was considered an aircraft carrier without the water. On certain days during his 13 month tour he would travel down to Chu Lai and get in some flight time with VMA-223.

The squadron's main mission was to support the ground troops. Many of his missions were to provide close air support to the Marine Grunts on the ground. He flew multiple sorties firing sidewinder rockets, dropping napalm bombs and using his 20 MM cannons and often in less than favorable weather conditions. It was during the afternoon of June 3, 1966 that he led a two-plane sortie in support of allied ground troops that were being attacked by the Viet Cong. He was able to locate the VC enemy, finding them in the open and began several air assaults flying low over mountainous terrain and expended all his heavy ordinance. It was during his last attack after utilizing his 20 MM cannons on the enemy and pulling up out of a run that his jet was hit by VC ground fire and burst into flames. His wingman and several Skyhawk pilots provided cover as several helicopters searched for him. He was located in the vicinity of Pleiku but did not survive the crash.

Captain Caspole was a Marine’s Marine. He led by example and won the respect of many who served with him. As they would say in the Marines, ”he had his shit together”. He served his country for 12 years and gave his life, such a high cost for our freedom. He was a true warrior and an American hero. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 35, Grave 3328 and the Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 08E, Line 1.

We walk in the footsteps of heroes. If they are remembered, they are not gone, they have simply moved to another assignment and are among our best.

Further note – Captain Caspole and other Braintree residents who have died in Vietnam, and those who later died from wounds or Agent Orange related illnesses, or served in Vietnam and have passed, are honored and remembered at the Braintree Vietnam Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament. This event has been held annually for the past 32 years. The contributions collected are then given in the form of scholarships to high school students in their memory. Contributions and sponsorships  can be sent at any time to the Vietnam Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Peter Schiavone, 1752 Washington Street, Braintree, Ma. 02184. The next tournament will be held on August 26, 2024 at the Braintree Municipal Golf Course.. Following the tournament, all are invited to the Braintree Sons of Italy, King Hill Road in Braintree, Ma. for a luncheon.

1 - An A-4B Jet Similar to what Captain Caspole flew.