Latest news with #Ramsden
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
World War II veteran 'refused to quit'
May 24—A young coxswain who was killed in a World War II battle on the Coral Sea has ties to Anatone — and a ship named after him. Marvin Ramsden's legacy is now showcased in a shadow box at his niece's house in Clarkston. The impressive display of medals, photographs and memorabilia is the result of a lot of time and effort that was sparked by a conversation in a break room at the Clearwater Paper mill several years ago. Two lifelong Clarkston friends — John Peters and Randy VanSickle — were discussing Valerie Ramsden's uncle Marvin and became curious about how the USS Ramsden was linked to Anatone and her family. VanSickle, 64, a retired Navy veteran, embarked on a deep-dive into history to help his friends learn more. Valerie, 65, and Peters, 64, recently spoke highly of VanSickle's research skills at their Clarkston Heights home. "Randy was instrumental in all of this, and his Navy connections were huge," Peters said. "After we found out Marvin died a hero and was lost at sea and had a ship named after him, we all agreed this story needs to be told." According to their research, Ramsden was a "dirt-poor farm boy" who joined the Navy at the age of 17, which required five letters in support of his maturity. He came from a family of homesteaders who settled in Anatone during World War II. His father, James, lost his first wife during childbirth, and married his second wife, Ada, when Marvin was 2 years old, Valerie said. "Grandma Ada is technically Marvin's stepmother, but she raised him, and played a big role in getting a ship named after him," she said. "She was also there when the ship was christened." After enlisting in California, Ramsden was stationed on the USS Lexington. On May 8, 1942, a fierce battle with Japan ensued, and the young coxswain remained at his post after being wounded. "He refused to quit," according to Seattle Star newspaper accounts of the battle. Ramsden was exposed in the crow's nest on the upper level of the battleship, operating a range finder for the gun crew, said VanSickle, who carefully transcribed the entire log of the attack. The young seaman courageously remained at his exposed station, in the face of intense dive-bombing attacks until he was physically exhausted. He successfully helped shoot down several enemy planes. "Basically, Marvin earned a Silver Star that day and died a hero that no one knows about," Peters said. "This kid from nowhere could've bailed, but he refused and went down with the ship." Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM Ramsden, 23, was killed in action aboard the aircraft carrier in the Coral Sea, off the east coast of Australia. He was the first Asotin County youth reported killed during the conflict, according to an Anatone news report. The famous USS Lexington ship, which had previously launched Amelia Earhart's plane in 1937, was sunk, and Ramsden's body was lost at sea. In early June of 1942, a telegram about his death arrived in Anatone, which had a much larger population than its present-day count, said Valerie, who grew up in the rural Asotin County town. At a community picnic decades later, she met the man who hand-delivered the sad news of her uncle's death to his family. "I was talking to a man in his 80s, and found out he had worked at the Anatone telegraph office, and actually delivered that telegram to James and Ada," Valerie said. Her uncle was a Minnesota native, born in 1919. At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents; two brothers, Lloyd and Everett; and a sister, Ellen Rassilyer. Everett, who died in 1986, is Valerie's father. Her aunt Ellen, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, played a pivotal role in securing Marvin's medals, which had been lost over time. She also gathered newspaper clippings and photos in binders that were given to the cousins. "She was his closest remaining relative and had to sign the paperwork to get the medal replacements," Valerie said. "At the time, she was 92 and living in Federal Way. All of us cousins wrote papers about Marvin in our history classes." After Marvin Ramsden died, his parents moved to Seattle, and Ada was given his posthumous Silver Star for "gallant and intrepid conduct in action against enemy Japanese forces during the battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942." Ada also sponsored the USS Ramsden, which carried the Anatone coxswain's portrait. "She was relentless and got a ship named after him," Valerie said. "Grandma Ada played a big part in this story." The Ramsden namesake ship was commissioned in 1943, and Ada was there when the vessel was launched in Houston, Texas. It served as a destroyer escort vessel, manned by a Coast Guard crew, before being decommissioned in 1960 and used as a practice target in 1975. At a Navy reunion in 1999, a family member met a man who served on the USS Ramsden. He said every sailor would touch Ramsden's portrait as he walked onto the ship. Now that the research has been done and the three Clarkston friends have gathered all of Marvin Ramsden's history, they plan to give it to a Navy museum, possibly at Farragut State Park in northern Idaho. "I was so moved to receive this shadow box, and appreciate all of the work Randy and John did to learn more and more about my Uncle Marvin," Valerie said. "We remember him on every Memorial Day, as well as others who lost their lives fighting for our country, and we are grateful to share his story." Sandaine can be reached at kerris@
CNN
07-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
The second-largest gold storage in the world suddenly has long lines to withdraw bars
President Donald Trump's tariff threats have created such strong demand for UK-held gold, traders are facing potentially weeks-long queues for a chance to withdraw it. All existing slots at the Bank of England to withdraw gold bars are booked up as market players race to ship the metal to the United States to take advantage of a surge in gold prices there, an official has said. Gold has become more valuable in the US than in other parts of the world as traders worry supply will plunge if Trump's across-the-board tariffs, both announced and planned, make imports of the metal costlier. 'The US gold market has been trading at a premium to the London market,' Dave Ramsden, deputy governor for markets and banking at the central bank, told reporters Thursday. The owners of the gold bars in its underground vaults have been 'looking to take advantage of that price differential,' he added. As a result, the Bank of England, which has the second-largest stock of gold in the world, has seen strong demand for gold withdrawals, he noted. 'All of those bodies who ship the gold, they've all got the … slots they need over the next few weeks. If you were coming in new to us, you might have to wait a bit longer because all the existing slots are booked up,' Ramsden said. The Bank of England, which is second only to the New York Federal Reserve as a top global custodian of the precious metal, looks after more than 400,000 gold bars worth billions of pounds. That haul has come under some pressure recently. Meanwhile, gold inventories on the US COMEX exchange — a major market for trading gold, silver and other metals — have almost doubled since the end of October, Commerzbank said in a note Friday. 'The fact that gold is significantly more expensive on the COMEX than (in) other trading centers is likely related to the feared US import tariffs, which could possibly also affect gold,' wrote Carsten Fritsch, a commodity analyst at the German bank. 'The deliveries on the COMEX are therefore likely to be primarily driven by concerns about possible supply disruptions.' The Bank of England's stock of gold has dipped by about 2% since the end of last year, Ramsden said. Gold prices have risen in recent weeks thanks to the asset's safe-haven status, with investors spooked by Trump's tariff plans. Russia's drawn-out war in Ukraine and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are also underpinning demand for the metal, according to UBS. In addition to being a tangible, scarce asset, gold is different from other traded assets in other ways. 'Gold is a physical asset, so there are real logistical constraints and security constraints,' Ramsden said. 'Getting into the (central) bank for me this morning was a bit trickier because there was a lorry in the bullion yard… And the stuff is also quite heavy.'
CNN
07-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
The second-largest gold storage in the world suddenly has long lines to withdraw bars
President Donald Trump's tariff threats have created such strong demand for UK-held gold, traders are facing potentially weeks-long queues for a chance to withdraw it. All existing slots at the Bank of England to withdraw gold bars are booked up as market players race to ship the metal to the United States to take advantage of a surge in gold prices there, an official has said. Gold has become more valuable in the US than in other parts of the world as traders worry supply will plunge if Trump's across-the-board tariffs, both announced and planned, make imports of the metal costlier. 'The US gold market has been trading at a premium to the London market,' Dave Ramsden, deputy governor for markets and banking at the central bank, told reporters Thursday. The owners of the gold bars in its underground vaults have been 'looking to take advantage of that price differential,' he added. As a result, the Bank of England, which has the second-largest stock of gold in the world, has seen strong demand for gold withdrawals, he noted. 'All of those bodies who ship the gold, they've all got the … slots they need over the next few weeks. If you were coming in new to us, you might have to wait a bit longer because all the existing slots are booked up,' Ramsden said. The Bank of England, which is second only to the New York Federal Reserve as a top global custodian of the precious metal, looks after more than 400,000 gold bars worth billions of pounds. That haul has come under some pressure recently. Meanwhile, gold inventories on the US COMEX exchange — a major market for trading gold, silver and other metals — have almost doubled since the end of October, Commerzbank said in a note Friday. 'The fact that gold is significantly more expensive on the COMEX than (in) other trading centers is likely related to the feared US import tariffs, which could possibly also affect gold,' wrote Carsten Fritsch, a commodity analyst at the German bank. 'The deliveries on the COMEX are therefore likely to be primarily driven by concerns about possible supply disruptions.' The Bank of England's stock of gold has dipped by about 2% since the end of last year, Ramsden said. Gold prices have risen in recent weeks thanks to the asset's safe-haven status, with investors spooked by Trump's tariff plans. Russia's drawn-out war in Ukraine and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are also underpinning demand for the metal, according to UBS. In addition to being a tangible, scarce asset, gold is different from other traded assets in other ways. 'Gold is a physical asset, so there are real logistical constraints and security constraints,' Ramsden said. 'Getting into the (central) bank for me this morning was a bit trickier because there was a lorry in the bullion yard… And the stuff is also quite heavy.'
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Project to create new 'insect superhighways'
A new project to boost insect populations across North Yorkshire by creating wildlife "superhighways" has been launched. The GrubsUp! scheme will link land in the North York Moors National Park along the A170, which connects Thirsk and Scarborough. Covering 200 square miles (520sqkm), the project will include planting native hedgerows, restoring grasslands and creating ponds and wetlands. Holly Ramsden, project officer for the programme, said insect populations had "seen alarming declines in abundance and species richness" in recent years. "Nearly all of us have noticed a drop in butterflies visiting our gardens, less moths around streetlights and far fewer insects on our cars than there once were," Ms Ramsden said. "These invertebrates are crucial to a healthy ecosystem, acting as important food sources for birds and small mammals." She said pollinating insects played a vital role in crop yield and keeping the air clean. Ms Ramsden said she hoped to inspire as many people as possible to get involved in the project their own way. "Often all we need to do is just be slightly less tidy, leaving some grass a little longer or having a woodpile or compost heap," she said. "The more of us who can do this, the more connected our habitats will be and the greater the benefits for nature." GrubsUp! is looking to collaborate with farmers, landowners, and local communities to protect and restore habitats for insects. The project would involve enhancing road verges and other green spaces, with the aim of boosting biodiversity and ensuring that insects can move between sites. The two-year scheme has received funding from Santander UK. Andrew Wilson, director of communications at the bank, said: "Protecting the wildlife and nature around us is not only vital in the fight against climate change, but for the economy too, with more than half of global GDP dependent on it." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. North York Moors National Park
BBC News
27-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
North Yorkshire project to create new 'insect super-highways'
A new project to boost insect populations across North Yorkshire by creating wildlife "superhighways" has been GrubsUp! scheme will link land in the North York Moors National Park along the A170, which connects Thirsk and 200 square miles (520sqkm), the project will include planting native hedgerows, restoring grasslands and creating ponds and Ramsden, project officer for the programme, said insect populations had "seen alarming declines in abundance and species richness" in recent years. "Nearly all of us have noticed a drop in butterflies visiting our gardens, less moths around streetlights and far fewer insects on our cars than there once were," Ms Ramsden said."These invertebrates are crucial to a healthy ecosystem, acting as important food sources for birds and small mammals."She said pollinating insects played a vital role in crop yield and keeping the air clean. Ms Ramsden said she hoped to inspire as many people as possible to get involved in the project their own way."Often all we need to do is just be slightly less tidy, leaving some grass a little longer or having a woodpile or compost heap," she said."The more of us who can do this, the more connected our habitats will be and the greater the benefits for nature."GrubsUp! is looking to collaborate with farmers, landowners, and local communities to protect and restore habitats for insects. The project would involve enhancing road verges and other green spaces, with the aim of boosting biodiversity and ensuring that insects can move between sites. The two-year scheme has received funding from Santander Wilson, director of communications at the bank, said: "Protecting the wildlife and nature around us is not only vital in the fight against climate change, but for the economy too, with more than half of global GDP dependent on it."Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
