More detail on this person: Syracuse Herald-Journal, Thursday, April 12, 1984 Ralph Thuesen ITHACA - Services for Ralph Thuesen, 55, of 201 Hampton Road, Ithaca, who died April 7 at Veterans Administration Hospital, Bath, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. John's Episcopal Church, Ithaca. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lansing. Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at E.C. Wagner Funeral Home. Ithaca. Col. Thuesen was a native of Newburgh and was a graduate of Newburgh High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation and served with the 1st Marine Division in Tienstsin, China, from 1946 to 1948. After his discharge from the Marines, Col. Thuesen served with the Marine Corps Reserve while attending Syracuse University. He was recalled to active duty in 1950 and served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Division, in the Korean War until his selection to Officer's Candidate School. Col. Thuesen received his commission in 1951, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1954. He flew photo reconnaissance missions put of Japan and later served as a pilot with an electronic warfare and reconnaissance squadron and as a forward air controller with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Division. Col. Thuesen was later assigned to the Headquarters of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Va. and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and reassigned as the commanding officer of the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment at New Orleans, La. Col. Thuesen transfered from piloting jet aircraft to helicopters in 1967 and was sent to Vietnam as the commanding officer of a helicopter squadron. After his tour of Vietnam was completed, Col. Thuesen was made action officer of the Joint Planning Croup in Washington, D.C. He was promoted to colonel and attended the Army War College. After graduation, Col. Thuesen was assigned to Hawaii as commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24, where he played an important role in the evacuation of American personnel from South Vietnam after the collapse of the government there. He later returned to the Far East as the inspector general of the Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific, and subsequently served as chief of staff of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Col. Thuesen retired from the Marines in 1977. Among the decorations Col. Thuesen received during his career are the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Combat "V", the Air Medal with Numerals 22. the Combat Action Medal, the Presidential Citation with two stars, the Navy Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star and the Republic of Vietnam Staff Honor Medal. Col. Thuesen was a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church and a member of the Ithaca Rotary Club, the Marine Corps Aviation Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Tompkins County Republican Club, the Country Club of Ithaca, the Ithaca Yacht Club and the Semper Fideles Society of Cornell University. He was president of Baden-Powell Boy Scout Council. Surviving are his wife, the former Barbara Wilcox; a daughter, Nancy Cell of Louisville, Ky.; a son, Michael W. of Lansing; three brothers, Theodore of Florida, Edward of Newton, N.J.,.and Samuel of Plattsburg; and two sisters, Ruth Travis and Elsie Mason, both of Newburgh. Contributions may be made to the Ralph Thuesen Honor Award, in care of Maj. Mike Mahoney, NROTC, Cornell University, Ithaca, or to Baden-Powell Council, B.S.A., 80 Cortland Road, Dryden.
Burial information: Pine Grove Cemetery, Lansing, NY
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