"Major Fredrick J. Ransbotton was born 19 September 1946 in Columbus, Ohio and in 1963 moved to Oklahoma. In 1965 he graduated Putnam City High School and attended Oklahoma Baptist University before enlisting into the US Army. He received a commission to Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduating Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1 June 1967.
He served at Fort Bliss, Texas, as a training officer before being deployed to Vietnam in January 1968 where he commanded the Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. His unit, which was assigned to I Corp Sector of Northern South Vietnam near the Provincial Capitol of Tam Ky, was overrun Mother's Day 12 May 1968 and he was killed in action.
His highest rank achieved was major. After nearly 39 years his remains were found and returned to Oklahoma. His medals and decorations include the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
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