Duncansville Bridge Dedicated for Vietnam Veteran

"People are going to drive by and see the sign and they're going to remember that this bridge is dedicated to an awesome brother and patriot to this country," said Gail Regets, sister of Ralph Hammel, for whom the bridge near their childhood home is being renamed.

The bridge, located on Charger Highway, near the Frankstown branch of the Juniata River will now be known as Corporal Ralph Hammel Memorial Bridge. The dedication took place on Sept. 28, 2022.

Ralph's grandnephew Shane Kennedy read about a bridge dedication and mentioned to his grandmother, Ralph's other sister Carol Hammel, that the family should look into having the bridge dedicated to her brother.

"I started with PA State Representative Jim Gregory's office," Hammel said.

After almost a year, the request had been approved.

Ralph, born May 8, 1947, had originally enlisted in the Navy, but then decided to transfer to the Marines because he wanted to do more. He was an MP in Annapolis, Md., for about a year before he went to Vietnam.

Carol, who was five years younger than her brother, once fell out of a tree when a limb broke, and Ralph carried her to their house.

"He was just always there for us," Carol said. "In all of the pictures that we look at, he is standing over me. He is protecting me. He was just always there."

Regets remembers her brother, who was fifteen years older, taking her for rides in his car, pushing her in a wheelbarrow full of leaves, and taking her fishing at the bridge.

According to Carol, her brother probably would not feel deserving of this honor.

Regets agrees that he would be very humbled. "I don't think he would be one to boast or brag. He would appreciate being honored in this way, especially when he grew up at the bridge."

"It is a great honor for us for Ralph to be remembered because when the Vietnam vets came back, nobody cared," Kennedy said. "It might have taken 60 years for his name to be remembered, but it will be remembered for what he did for his country."

Ralph gave his last breath to his country March 7, 1968, in Quang Tri Province. He received the Purple Heart, Marine Corp Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Marine Good Conduct Medal and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. In addition to those awards, he also received The Military Merit Medal, the highest military ribbon given to enlisted personnel from the Republic of Vietnam for accomplishment of deeds of valor and heroic acts.

Ralph had an eight-month-old son at the time of his death. Kirk Hammel misses his dad and is very proud of him.

"We should strive to have the same morals as our veterans, to be helping, caring and protective to our loved ones and neighbors," Kennedy said.