Birth date: Feb 16, 1947 Death date: Oct 30, 2015
Fred was born and raised on the east side of Tacoma, Washington and was the youngest son Robert and Cathern Ragland, now deceased. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965 where he excelled in football playing the fullback po Read Obituary
The man I know always lit up a room with his smile. The relationship between my aunt June and fred always possessed a happy and positive love even through many struggles of health they held each other up!! Fred will be missed by many and June will have many loved ones help support her thorough this tremendous loss!! We all love you both!!!
My first clear remembrance of Fred Ragland, or "Rags" as the men in the 2nd Platoon of Alpha Company 1st of the 20th, used to call him was my first day in the field in Vietnam. I was the new Platoon Leader and SSgt Ragland was a season Squad Leader having been "in country" for six months. He watched out for me that day and for the rest of the time we served together. Rags was courageous, compassionate, friendly, and could walk farther and faster than anyone I ever knew. We were always calling up to the front and asking him to slow down because the rest of us couldn't keep up. It was a major loss to our Company the day Rags was wounded and sent home. We missed him as a man and a leader. Rags was one of the best of us all.
Twenty years ago when we reconnected thanks to the internet and Rags and June started regularly attending the Alpha 1/20 Reunions, Rags was still the great guy he had been back in 1968. He had this way about him. His smile made you smile. Even though he had suffered so many physical set backs, he never waivered and he was always thinking about those around him. Fred Ragland was always my picture of what a real man was supposed to be.
All of his comrades from 002, 2nd Platoon, missed SSgt Ragland greatly in 1968 and we will miss our friend even more now. But we know that Rags is "standing tall and proud" before his Maker, a great soldier and a good man.
John McNown
Twinkle Toes Freddie.... I would call him that and he would take me to the mat instantly.... I was bigger than him but he was faster, stronger and a better wrestler than I was.
Freddie, Jerome Crawford, Bob and Ron Baines and our little Murphy Friend were always a fun and funny crowd to be around at Gault.... Oh the stories I could tell you about them you would die laughing. Freddie always knew when to pull back when he was reaching the boiling point (most the time) and for that he was a gentleman parexcellence..... I have thought a lot about you Freddie, over the years, talked about you over the years and prayed for you and the gang over the years...
God Bless you fella, your friend forever, yours in Christ, Jim-N-Sue Wirth
FREDDIE,
He was always nice to me, joked around trying to bring me out from being so SHY in school.....Always smiling and GREAT personality, he was SCHOOL SPIRIT and heck of a football player!!! So sorry for your LOSS.
Fred was an all around nice Guy as we went through Gault & Lincoln. After reading his obituary, it sounds like he lived his life in the same caring, loving, nice guy way that we all knew him.
Know he will be missed greatly by friends & family. Like to think of him at peace & pain free in his heavenly body.
My deepest condolences go out to my sister, June, & all of Fred's family. He will be deeply missed.
Fred has known my sister for over 30 years & has made my sister very happy since their marriage. For that, I thank him. They have made many wonderful memories together & I am certain that those memories can help her through this difficult time in her life. I believe those memories will help her face each new day with a smile. They were soul mates & will be soul mates in eternity when the time comes.
Fred was a football enthusiast, a war hero, & a western nut. I will miss talking about & watching westerns with him, but now he can talk to the real ones in heaven. Every time I will hear "Riders in the Sky" I will think of Fred being there with the rest of the cowboys watching over his family with love.
My prayers & thoughts are with you all.
