Ralph Jesters

The Scripture says—“In all things give thanks” and I stand here tonight to give thanks for the life of Ralph Leroy Jester, who died on the 22nd of January in our city. He would have been 75 next month, but coronary arteries blocked by plaque took his life. He died alone, but not without people who cared—Yolanda Vanapalli was one such person. She saw Ralph living in a car and with a generous heart gave him a small room behind her house to call home for his last year on earth. She checked on him now and then, because it was clear that Ralph had a serious drinking problem. That one problem may account for his homeless circumstances, but that was just one side of Ralph—there are many other things about Ralph that are worth remembering and worth honoring as we gather tonight.
Thanks to the kind folks here at Claybar we now know that Ralph Jester was born on February 25, 1942 in Cold Spring, Texas. On July 15, 1959 he was inducted into the United States Army in Houston, Texas. Records show that at this time Ralph was living on Hollywood Street in Beaumont. In 1960 after completing his basic training Ralph completed the Advanced Infantry Training School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Then in 1962 also at Fort Campbell, Ralph attended the U. S. Army Quartermaster School where he was trained as a Parachute Rigger and Inspector and earned the Parachutist Badge.
Ralph Jester served his country a total of 9 years, 6 months and 15 days --1 year, 7 months and 12 days were served in Vietnam. Upon his discharge on March 9, 1969 Specialist 4 Ralph Jester was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Three Overseas Service Bars, the Combat Infantry Badge and above all an Honorable Discharge.
That record tells me a great deal. It tells me that Ralph Jester was a patriot who did not shirk his duty. He was a man of courage— he went back to Nam not once but twice, even after knowing firsthand how dangerous and difficult it was. He clearly believed in an America that valued freedom as a sacred gift, worth any price. He saw suffering, death and, no doubt, fear—and yet he served.
Vietnam, you know, was the war many in this country tried to ignore—but not my generation, not me. Those men and women were my classmates in high school and college, my family, and they served because their country called them, and because they believed America was worth fighting for. They served with honor. We all thought Communism was an enemy that needed to be eliminated. What we didn’t know was that the rules of engagement would preclude a full victory for our troops, and that coming home would mean facing hateful people who took their frustrations and anger out on the very men and women who had risked everything for them.
Ralph Jesters was one of those guys—just like some of you here tonight. War was hard enough, but getting on with life and living under such added emotional stress was far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. His life did not turn out the way he had hoped, I’m sure. But you and I have a precious opportunity tonight to give Ralph Jesters a farewell full of the well earned respect he deserves. I am honored to be here and acknowledge his contribution to our community and our country—I know you are too.

A memorial service will be held at 6:30p.m. on February 16, 2017 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont.