Alumni Hall of Fame
Service to St. Marys City Schools (2021)

Sergeant Ronnie Blair was a member of the Memorial High School Class of 1966. After high school, Ronnie was drafted into the Army through the Selective Service. He trained at Fort Polk in Louisiana, specializing in Light Weapons Infantry.

Ronnie was deployed on March 26, 1968, to Vietnam as part of the 2nd Platoon, 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, C Company. He was promoted to Sergeant and served as Squad Leader for Company C.

On October 10, 1968, the day before he was to take personal leave and fly to Hawaii to be married, Sergeant Blair was engaged in a fierce battle while on a combat mission. Company C came under heavy fire in the Republic of Vietnam, which is South Vietnam. During the initial burst of fire, several men were wounded and laying in an open area. Sergeant Blair, with complete disregard for his own safety, crawled into the open area and carried two of his wounded comrades to the rear. Sergeant Blair then advanced and provided covering fire for the withdrawal of his men. As he attempted to rejoin his comrades, Sergeant Ronnie Blair was mortally wounded, and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Sergeant Ronnie Blair was killed in action in South Vietnam, Hua Nghia province, at the age of 20 years old.

His actions of valor contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission and the defeat of the enemy. Sergeant Blair's personal bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Sergeant Ronnie Blair was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. He had also been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, The Vietnam Gallantry Cross, The Army Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Marksman Badge.

Sergeant Blair is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Panel W41, Line 38. Ronnie Blair is interred at Resthaven Memory Gardens in St. Marys.



For his bravery and valor, and for making the ultimate sacrifice for his country, The St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Foundation inducts Sergeant Ronnie Blair into the St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame for Military Service to Country.

The above text, in its entirety, is embossed on a St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Hall of Fame plaque permanently on display in Memorial High School.