The oath of a lifetime
by Eric Tiongson
White County News
Ron Webb took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America when he was 17 years old.
He had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force straight out of high school after receiving some advice from his uncle, who was an Air Force pilot. After a conversation with him, Webb was so set on serving in the military that he had to get his father to sign for him, since he was younger than 18 years old.
That oath was a defining moment in his life, something he’s extremely passionate about. As Webb reflected on his service, a single teardrop trickled down from his eye.
“When you take that oath to the Constitution, it is a sacred duty and honor,” Webb said. “I saw some of my friends die after they took that oath, so the Constitution and it’s protection is paramount in my life and to this country.”
Webb served in the Air Force as an air policeman during the Vietnam War, serving for a total of four years, four months and 11 days.
The kid from the swamps of Georgia, who had only ever known his hometown of Reidsville, traveled the world, being stationed in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Thailand and Vietnam. He experienced different cultures and met people from all walks of life, which Webb referred to as a “great education.”
As an air policeman, Webb was tasked with keeping order between military personnel and civilians, military personnel and foreign law enforcement or in some cases, keeping order within the military itself. He would break up bar fights, enforce laws and patrol whichever town he was stationed in. More than anything else, he wanted to represent the United States in the best possible light.
“Any time that you’re overseas and you’re in a United States military uniform, you’re an ambassador,” Webb said.
But between all of the scuffles that Webb saw, the incident that made the biggest impression on him wasn’t a fight at all. It wasn’t in the field of combat. It was a reminder of why he enlisted in the first place.
While stationed in Vietnam, Webb was working flight security for a helicopter carrying the dead bodies of five Marines. He, and three of his fellow air policemen, saw the bodies get unceremoniously dumped off of the helicopter. Webb and his team were instructed to keep the bodies secure until a larger aircraft would come pick them up. They decided to go a step further, and held an impromptu ceremony for the five fallen Marines, marching them onto the plane one-by-one, while the other officers saluted.
“It occurred to me that they were different races, they were from different parts of the country,” Webb said. “The only thing they had in common was one, the Marine Corps, and two, they took an oath to the Constitution and they died for it. That really drove home the meaning of protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States.”
After the war, Webb came back home to Georgia, and began a career in law enforcement, working for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and later the FBI. He liked it, and he was good at it. It was another chance for him to uphold his oath. But he’ll always be proudest of the service he gave to his country.
“Next to my family, my wife, children and grandchildren, this was my proudest accomplishment,” Webb said. “I was very successful in my law enforcement career, but my time in service is what I look back on and take the most pride in.”
Even now, in retirement, Webb still works his hardest every day to uphold that same oath he took at 17 years old. After moving to White County, Webb made it his mission to help turn his home into a haven for those who served.
In 2014, Webb founded the Northeast Georgia Veterans Society with the hopes of creating a community of veterans that live in the region. Beyond holding monthly meetings at North Georgia BBQ, the society holds special events such as a Veterans Day dinner, a Memorial Day Tribute and a Constitution Day celebration. He also led efforts to honor and memorialize veterans from White County with numerous statues and memorials being built under his watch.
Giving veterans a sense of community is a cause that’s personal to Webb. Being a Vietnam veteran isn’t easy. Webb recalled that when he returned home, he could feel a cold shoulder from the public, due to a heavy anti-war sentiment throughout the country.
“We were getting insults and suffered a lot of indignity,” Webb said. “The Vietnam veteran is special to me because they were the ones who were not welcomed home.”
Here in White County, Webb finally feels embraced. He gets warm welcomes wherever he goes, and is an active member in the community, being a member and former president of White County Rotary Club, on top of his work with the Northeast Georgia Veterans Society.
“I appreciate the citizens of White County for all of the support they’ve given us over the years,” Webb said. “It’s been an honor to have served them in my military and law enforcement career.”
Webb admitted that he was a little reluctant to tell his story. He didn’t want any attention or fanfare, but believed he owes it to other veterans to share with the public the sacrifices that they’ve made, and why they do what they do.
“You don’t like to brag, but you do it for veterans, to tell the story of why veterans serve,” Webb said. “You do it to get it out to the public that they should be honored and respected, because we wouldn’t have this country without them.”
On Veterans Day, Webb can be found at Nacoochee Methodist Church, where he and the Northeast Georgia Veterans Society will be hosting a Veterans Day tribute. He’ll be there to honor the countless people that took the same exact oath that he did.
It’s one that he’ll uphold for the rest of his life.