Ralph Martin Hockley

HOCKLEY, RALPH MARTIN, Colonel, US Army Ret, born 17 Oct 1925 in Karlsruhe, Germany died in Dallas, Texas on 8 November 2023. His life was part of 20th century history. At 8, his family emigrated to France due to Nazi persecution. When the Nazis occupied France in June 1940, his father was interned in several camps in France-including Gurs. Ralph (Rudy) was thrown out of school but then worked as a volunteer office boy for the American Quakers. US Vice Consul Hiram Bingham [who saved some 2500 Jewish refugees from his post in Marseille, France] assisted Ralph’s father in being released from the Gurs Camp in March 1941. With the aid of the American Quakers and Hiram Bingham, the family was able to escape France and get to the United States. In December 1943, Ralph joined the US Army [Changing his name from Rudolph Martin Hockenheimer]and became a US citizen in May 1944. In early 1945, as one of the Ritchie Boys, he was sent to France and then Germany where he became an Intelligence Sergeant and Counterintelligence Special Agent. He returned to the US and attended Syracuse University where he was awarded his degree in Russian Area Studies and Political Science in June 1949. In 1950-1951, he served in Korea for 14 months as an artillery officer in the worst battles during 7 campaigns, from the Pusan Perimeter to Heartbreak Ridge. Korea was followed by Intelligence Assignments in the USA and Berlin, Germany. He served simultaneously in the Army Reserve and as a civilian intelligence officer after the Korean War ended. He retired from the Reserve in May 1979 as a full Colonel. His military awards included the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Meritorious Service Medal. H also received the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for his many years in a civilian capacity for the US Army in Europe. On November 17, 2021, the French Government awarded its highest order, The Legion d’ Honneur for his lifetime activities on behalf of France, and specifically for serving as a US Artillery Forward Observer with the French UN Battalion in the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in 1951 in the Korean War. Ralph was the author of Freedom is not Free, published in 2000. He was always eager to take on leadership positions. In 1943 at 18, in New York, he became Secretary for the Free French Youth. In 1948, at 22, at Syracuse Univ he was the chairman for the city of Syracuse of the United National Appeal for Children. And for over 70 years he was active in ROA [Reserve Officers Association of the US]. He served as European Department President. Then, back in the USA, he held various offices in the ROA Departments of California and Texas. From 1982 to 1984, he served as President of the San Francisco Chapter of NARFE [National Association of Retired Federal Employee]. From 1998 to 2011, he was very active the 2nd Infantry Division, - Korean War Veterans Alliance, holding the offices of Secretary and President for many years. Carolyn was the Administrator of that nationwide organization at the same time. He also was a member of the Lone Star Chapter, Korean War Veterans in Houston. World Affairs and US politics were his most important “hobbies”. He worked with Carolyn, in the elections of Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, in California. Later for candidates in Texas. Ever the believer in true democracy, in the sense of the little “d”! Ralph and his late wife, Eva, nee Frankel, born in Germany, met in Oakland, California in 1955. Eva escaped the Nazis as a 5-year-old from Berlin through Portugal with an Aunt and Uncle during World War II. Ralph and Eva had two children – Clifford and Denise both born at the US Army Hospital in Berlin, Germany when Ralph was assigned there working in Intelligence for the US Government. Eva died in in 1983. Ralph later married Carolyn Glover Harris, they were married over 38 years. He leaves his wife Carolyn Glover Hockley, a son – Clifford Hockley [wife Julie-South Orange, New Jersey]; a daughter, Denise Hockley of Beaverton, Oregon; three stepchildren, Kris Harris [Donna] of Katy, Texas; Heidi [Greg ] Hargis of Carrollton, Texas and Kirk Harris, MD [Michaelle Roy] of Phoenix, Arizona; 13 grandchildren – Ellie Hockley-Harrison and Lily Hockley; Jessica Evans; and step grandchildren, Reed Harris, Hannah Harris Bush, Kale Harris; Ryan Hargis and Glen Hargis; Marshall Harris, Meagan Harris Papac, Alexis Harris Lott, Wyatt Harris and Brittney Roy and spouses. Also, 16 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ralph can be made to: HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum Habitat for Humanity Teach for America

Ralph Martin Hockley

October 17, 1925 - November 8, 2023