Ronald G. Bliss

I never met Mr. Bliss, but I was connected to him through a bracelet I wore as a child. I wore his name on a copper POW bracelet. I would watch the news and pray for his name to be called saying he was coming home. I remember crying when his name finally appeared. So happy he was free. My mom and I mailed the bracelet to him, but I have no idea if he ever got it. I was born in 1964, the year his service started, and I was very proud to wear his name on my wrist, he was my solider-he came home.

Saying Goodbye to an American Hero



Today I attended a memorial service for a true friend and an American Hero. For those readers that never met Ron, he survived 6 and a half years in the Hanoi Hilton, courtesy of North Viet Nam during the late 60’s and until his release in 1973.



I met Ron in 1999 when he was introduced to me by one of his partners in the law firm where he worked. I was forming a committee for a National Veterans...

I have tried for some time to put words together to adequately express my feelings. I have not found those words. I can say that I was blessed to know Ron for almost 45 years. I knew him as a roommate, classmate, and friend. I will remember him as a hero and gentleman. He is someone I would have trusted in any situation. I loved him like a brother. My deepest sympathy to his friends and family who now will only be able to share his wit and charm through remembered stories - but there are a...

I first met Ron in 1990, shortly after moving to Houston, when he spoke to a civic club about his experiences as a POW. I knew two of his fellow POW's personally from my service in the Air Force. Ron, like both of my other former POW friends, had a positive outlook on life that was infectious. He was always a pleasure to be around.

It was my privilege to refer one legal matter to him some years later and, of course, it was handled in the professional manner that one would...

I have only just heard about the passing of one of America's great
citizens and I am deeply saddened that Ron Bliss has been called away from us to his higher duty with God.
In the all too few times we were together I never ceased to be amazed at the inner peace and quiet strength the man possessed.
Always articulate, always friendly, and always humble Ron Bliss was the
embodiment of all that is good about America. A patriot,a brave
warrior, a devoted...

It has been over five years since our son died in my arms in the ninth floor room at M D Anderson, all too familiar to Ron and us. Ron's words at Tom's funeral, I remember verbatim, especially that "he knew Tom fewer than any of you here" and his ending that "tom would have made a great fighter pilot". What a great person Ron was and only he and Tom would know how they bonded so intimately. We are sending a donation to Camp for All, and the Tom Metz Baseball Park in particular, in Ron's honor...

From the moment I first met Ron and Charlene, I knew I was in the company of two very special people. Having lost a son five months ago, I can relate to the magnitude of Charlene's loss.
But, this I know...Ron's life is not ended, only changed. His spirit is free once again to travel further.
With love,

There are only two times I cried hard for a man that was not a family member...one of my infantry soldiers (who was killed next to me during battle in Iraq) and Ron Bliss at his passing. As a former combat Infantry Officer in the 1st Iraq war, I cannot even fathom what Ron went through in Vietnam-yet he made me feel as if I was "Audie Murphy" when HE (Ron) was the ULTIMATE hero. He made me laugh so hard and was so self-depricating...the first to make YOU feel as if YOU were the person of...