Ernest "Ernie/Sonny" Eldredge

Retired United States Army Master Sergeant Ernest “Ernie / Sonny” W. Eldredge, passed away on Tuesday 14 August 2012, at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS. He was born on 31 August 1928 in Exeter, NH. Ernie grew up in Exeter, NH through grade school when he moved to Newmarket, NH; he graduated in 1946, he was president of his senior class. Ernie enlisted in the Army in November 1946 and retired in 1971 after more than 25 years of service. His stateside assignments included: Fort McClellan AL; Fort Benning GA; Fort Polk, LA; Fort Jay (Governor’s Island) NY; Boston Army Base, MA; New Kensington and Pittsburgh PA; and Nashville, TN. His Foreign Service tours included Alaska (prior to it becoming a state), Japan, Korea (1950-1951), Iran, Okinawa, Taiwan, and Vietnam (1967-1969). He received numerous awards including the Bronze Star (Merit) with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with Oak leaf Cluster; World War II Victory Medal; 9 Good Conduct Medals; Army of Occupation of Japan Medal; Korean Service Medal / 4 Bronze Service Stars; United Nations Medal; Vietnam Service Medal / 7 Oak Leaf Clusters; Vietnam Campaign Medal / 1960’s date bar; National Defense Service Medal / Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class; Meritorious Service Medal; Vietnam Staff Service Medal Second Class; Vietnam Service Medal / 7 campaign Stars. In1973, Ernie moved to Phoenix AZ, where he began many years of assisting minor league hockey trainers and later became equipment manager for the Nashville Tennessee South Stars, (farm team for the Minnesota North Stars). In 1989 Ernie became a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) Washington DC. He transferred to AFRH- Gulfport MS in 1993 surviving Hurricane Katrina and the trip back to AFRH DC he was reunited with the new and improved AFRH-Gulfport in 2010. He became involved in the National Senior Games (Olympics) especially, Bowling! He belonged to leagues and attended tournament play, on the local, National and International levels. Winning many of them! • Sun Lodge #6 in Taipei, Taiwan (twice Master), Life Member • Scottish Rite Bodies of Taiwan • Nile Temple Shrine • Veterans of Foreign Wars • The American Legion, Life Member • Non Commissioned Officers Association • Fraternal Order of Eagles, Newmarket, NH for over 50 years • 7th Infantry Division Association • 13th Combat Engineer Battalion Association Ernie never lost his passion for travel. Visits with family and friends, reunions for the numerous organizations and military units kept his retirement years filled with adventure. Keeping in touch with those he loved was important to Ernie. His cards, filled with jokes, always brought a smile and a chuckle. Christmas letters shared his life over the years; He will be missed by all who loved him. Ernie was preceded in death by his; mother Vera C. Lord Eldredge Keller; his stepfather, George D. “Cy” Keller sr., and two brothers Robert and Richard Keller of Merrimac, MA. Ernie is survived by his five siblings; Margaret “Kip” O’Connell of Manchester, NH, Joan Fish of Las Vegas NV, Helen Noone of Merrimac, MA, Carolyn Keller of Westhampton Beach, NY, Claire Burleigh, of Dover, NH, and George D. Keller of Salem, NH, and numerous nieces and nephews A memorial service will be held Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, 1800 Beach Drive, Gulfport at 10:30 a.m. where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 a.m. The family will greet friends and family after the service. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Armed Forces Retirement Home Gulfport, RAC; 1800 Beach Drive, Gulfport, MS 39507. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe