Class of 1963
"Frank Delzell Ralston III"
"Frank"
d 1966
| Service United States Air Force |
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| Highest Rank 1st Lieutenant |
Years of Service 3 |
Combat Yes |
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Biography as of: Oct 29, 2013
Frank earned 2 letters each in football, track, and wrestling at East Denver High School. As a senior, he was All City Linebacker and Quarterback and runner-up for All City in the Pole Vault and 157-pound-class wrestling. Frank was a superb athlete, and he was strong.
Frank, Willie Parma, and Joe Lee Burns were best friends at the Academy. While at pilot training, they adopted West Pointer George Lippemeier, thus becoming known as the 4 Musketeers through F-4 training and on to Ubon.
Frank is shown with his mascot, Elmer, a 200-pound teak elephant with real ivory tusks. Joe Lee suggests that the generous consumption of Singha beer or other spirits may have influenced Frank's decision to purchase Elmer in Bangkok. In 1966, the 433rd TFS flew mostly night missions, after which Frank and Elmer made frequent trips to the Ubon club. Elmer seldom went to the club with anyone else because hardly anyone else could carry him. Note the numerous flight-suit knife pockets dangling from Elmer's neck. They are trophies from fighter pilots who entered the Ubon bar with pockets still attached.
Sadly Elmer went to Denver after his tour at Ubon Frank did not.
On 14 May 1966, less than a month after Lee Adams went down near the north edge of Tally Ho, Frank and Captain Don King disappeared on a night mission in the same area. King, a former test pilot, was a selectee for the Thunderbirds, and both pilots had flown more than 90 missions over North Vietnam. Flying armed reconnaissance about 10 miles behind the lead F-4, Frank and Don were looking for enemy activity along supply routes to South Vietnam. Coincidentally, Lt. Steve Leisge flying in the lead aircraft had lost out to Frank in competition for the USAFA nomination in 1959 and had had to go to the Naval Academy instead.
A flash of light somewhere behind the leader and a garbled radio message caused the flight leader to turn back, but no contact of any kind was reestablished.
"There's a place God overlooked when He said Let there be light
Cause there's no place in the world so dark as Tally Ho at night."
From Tally Ho Tonight on the Fast and Low CD
Combat is also the place where you make friendships that last forever. There's something about sharing danger, overcoming fear, earning each other's' mutual trust, and surviving that bonds warriors together for a lifetime. Joe Lee Burns, USAFA Class of 1963
This tribute to Frank (providing information to Frank's High school class for their 50-year reunion) is wonderful, heartwarming. I'm sure you're getting a big smile from those guys looking down at us from above. Bob Kan, F-4 pilot, 433rd TFS
Frank was an outstanding pilot. Mainly due to his abilities and dedication we were the first crew in the 433rd TFS to become combat ready in the F-4. Roger A Knopf
Our 50 year reunion at the Zoo is in October. The remaining three Musketeers will meet up again to celebrate Frank's life. Sure wish Elmer could join us one more time, too . . . . . Frank will be there . . . . . Joe Lee Burns, USAFA Class of 1963
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