MSgt Kelley S. Hughes Ramsey Oral History Side A

title:

MSgt Kelley S. Hughes Ramsey Oral History Side A

creator:

Ramsey, Kelley (Hughes) (1964 December 12 - )

subject:

Marine Corps

description:

Side 1 of 2. Kelley S. Ramsey (formerly Hughes) was born on December 12, 1964 in Benton, Pennsylvania. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1985 and went to basic training in January 1986. She graduated from recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina in and served as a hometown recruiter assistant for 30 days in Benton. In May 1986 she attended the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and became a U.S. Marine Corps combat correspondent. Her duty assignment was in Okinawa, Japan, writing stories and taking photographs of Marines in action for the Third Marine Division, Third Force Service Support Group and Third Marine Aircraft Wing. In 1988 she attended the Third Marine Division Non-Commissioned Officer School, graduating with honors and in 1989, she served as a public affairs non-commissioned officer for Sixth Marine Corps District in Atlanta, Georgia and editor for a district-wide recruiting magazine. In 1990 she attended the Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia and became the first female Marine combat correspondent to earn "wings" for jumping out of planes to take photos. In 1991 Kelley was named the 6th Marine Corps District's Athlete of the Year and 6th Marine Corps District's Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter. In 1992 she served as a reporter for the base's newspaper, The Scout, at Camp Pendleton, California. She also served and reported to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during the LA Riots and won awards for her work. She married Billey Ramsey, a Marine infantryman, and they have two sons. She became the press chief for the Scout and was Media Chief for Camp Pendleton, serving as a spokesperson for the base. She has earned Navy Commendation Medals and Navy Achievement Medals for her work throughout her service. In 1994 she began working at Recruiting Station Omaha managing marketing, advertising, and public affairs for the region. Next, she served in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters as the Public Affairs Chief. She traveled extensively throughout her career and was part of a joint military team responsible for the opening of the D-Day museum, serving as the military commentator for the nationally telecasted D-Day Parade. She began serving alongside drill instructors of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego as the senior enlisted for the Public Affairs Office. As of the interview, she had been transferred to a newly created billet: Marketing and Advertising Chief for the Western Recruiting Region. She is also part of the creative team advising on a redesign of www.Marines.com and "The Climb" Marine commercial. She works closely with three Marine Corps Recruiting Districts, the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Quantico, and J. Walter Thompson (the Corps' advertising agency, headquartered in Atlanta. She was still in the service as of her interview. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Wilson, Eleanor M.

date:

2002-08-19

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

764; 2002.764

source:

MCHC | CLIR - Recordings at Risk

language:

English

relation:

NR

coverage:

1980s | 1990s | 1986-interview

rights:

Unrestricted