November 4, 1942 – June 8, 1967
Ronnie pictured with his wife, Eileen, and son, Ricky
Eulogy by his daughter Deborah:
Who was Ronnie Campbell? That is what my Uncle Mike told me to find out. “Just the basic information”, he said. His date of birth, where he grew up, his parents’ names, etc. Sounds like an easy enough task, doesn’t it? After all, this was the man that brought me life. But, that question, “Who was Ronnie Campbell?,” has always been a mystery to me. I never had the opportunity to know this man, never gazed up into his kind loving eyes, never heard the gentleness of his voice as he told me he loved me, and never felt the warmth of his arms as he held me. Sometimes we are dealt a hand of cards that we will never understand. I was born 5 1/2 months after my father was killed on the USS Liberty. I am now 36 years old and just beginning to find out what happened on that day in June of 1967. I am very saddened and disturbed by what I’ve read so far. Instead of bringing answers for me, my search has only brought more questions.
I’ve only heard bits and pieces about my father throughout my life. I’ve heard he was a very gentle and caring man–one that would open his home to anyone who needed a warm place to stay. I’ve heard he loved God and lived his life in a way that showed that. He had a great imagination, and as he was growing up my Granny (his mom) would see him outside, by himself, for hours on end, playing cowboys and Indians, having a grand ol time. I’ve met some of those who knew him growing up, and to this day they are still overtaken by sorrow as they try to talk to me about him. He was a good-looking man, and from what I’ve heard had no problems in the dating department during his school days.
I don’t know how he and my mom met–she doesn’t talk much about him. I imagine it brings up a lot of pain for her. But, from what I understand, they were very much in love. My brother was born in Scotland in 1964. He is the spittin’ image of my father! He doesn’t remember much, if anything, about him either, as he was just short of 3 when Ronnie was killed. I can’t imagine the grief, fear and anger my mom must have had as a young widowed mother with a baby on the way in 1967. So many lives were turned upside down that day. Thirty-four families ripped apart and countless others shaken to their core.
One day, when my life on this earth is done, I will meet this man who has been such a mystery to me. I have so much to tell him about my life. So much he missed out on. So much we missed out on.
Thank you for this opportunity to pay tribute to my father.
Written By
Deborah Casswell (Campbell)
January 21, 2004
Today, Ronnie Campbell would have celebrated his 77th birthday with his family and friends. His was killed at the age of 25.
RIP shipmate
Station HYPO 
4 November 2019 at 22:00
Thanks for your message. I survived as a CT without harm, but we have always been a silent, no comment out of the limelight group. Better to be as invisible as possible, but often those who wanted to know of us and what we were doing were very close by trying to steal our knowledge and know what we were doing. The Liberty was a terrible evil thing, but not the only ship with CT’s to be attacked, nor the only land assignment observed or damaged. He served knowing I believe that there were few public rewards and little knowledge of his service or job. The same applies to many Marines, Airmen, and army soldier doing similar duty. I honor all of these, your father among them, though I did not know him and served a little later than he. peace to you and all my brothers and sisters in arms, especially those who serve this way.
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5 November 2019 at 01:38
Another reminder—and a highly personalized one at that—of the attack on USS Liberty. I thank, I think all of us who read this message thank Deborah Casswell Campbell. We’ll remember Deborah, her father, and their entire family in our prayers. Thanks for posting, Mario.
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5 November 2019 at 23:31
I met Ronnie in Scotland. I didn’t know him well but remember him as being a really nice guy. I was a Marine and had a car. Gave him lifts from time to time.
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