Ralph A Copeland

Specialist Four Ralph A Copeland

Vietnam
-
Fallen

Minot AFB, ND


County:
Ward

Date of Loss:

Recovered:
Remains recovered

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
Specialist 4th Class

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
B Company

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:
229th Assault Helo Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:
1st Cavalry Division
Listed on/in the:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington D.C.
All Veterans Memorial, State Capitol, Bismarck, ND
Register of North Dakota Veterans Vietnam Conflict 1964-1973, published 1981

Circumstances:

South Vietnam
Hostile, died of wounds, ground casualty
Multiple fragmentation wounds

Biography:

Ralph A. Copeland was born on November 21, 1936, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was raised in a military life and followed in his father's footsteps. His father served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. SP4 Copeland enlisted in the Army at Minot AFB, North Dakota and had served for six years. Prior to Vietnam, he was stationed in Germany and began his Vietnam tour on September 13, 1965, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Company B, USARV.  His loss of life was on November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam.

The Battle of Ia Drang comprised two main engagements that took place on November 14 and 17, 1965 in the Ia Drang Valley. It was the first major confrontation between the United States and the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. It became a blueprint for the tactics by both sides.  The Americans used air mobility, artillery fire and close air support to accomplish battlefield objectives. The NVA learned that they could neutralize that firepower by quickly engaging American forces at very close range. 

SP4 Copeland received the Purple Heart and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC. His name is inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 03e, Line 48.