Army Col. Nelson Ringmacher has worn a uniform for more than 43 years combined. But he has contributed to his country even longer.

The Flower Mound resident and Vietnam War veteran said he has served all over the world, from Ethiopia to the Pentagon. After his retirement and eventual relocation to Flower Mound, he headed up the formation of a local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, the North DFW Military Officers Association. He also lead in various civic positions and joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Grapevine Lake.

“He’s continued to serve, even out of uniform,” said Army Lt. Col. Richard Crossley, a friend and fellow North DFW Military Officers Association founding member.

Ringmacher’s military training began in high school at Kentucky Military Institute, where he was in JROTC.

He found he liked the atmosphere – the discipline, camaraderie and challenges.

In 1961, after attending Purdue University, where he was in ROTC, and about two years after marrying his wife, Judy, Ringmacher entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

Of the multiple places he served, Ringmacher said the most challenging was  Ethiopia. The terminal where the couple first landed was an old tin building. Two paved roads went out from the city. And there wasn’t any peanut butter – they had to wait for it.

“Everything was flown in, or came in by ship,” Ringmacher said.

During that time, Ringmacher said he served as Communications Center Chief at a top-secret facility. Only he or someone he worked for were allowed to encode top-secret messages, using a machine with wheels that was manually operated.

While Judy accompanied him on his other assignments, she said she and other military spouses were not allowed to go to Vietnam during the war. While they were apart, she and Ringmacher mailed voice tapes back and forth.

Ringmacher served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War — from 1966 to 1967 and from 1969 to 1970.

Of all his accomplishments, Ringmacher said the highlight of his military career was serving as the commander of the 13th Signal Battalion, First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood. This made him head over all communications for an entire division of the Army — at the time, there were 16, he said.

After retiring in 1987, he lived with Judy in Round Rock for a time before they moved to Flower Mound. Ringmacher was involved in MOAA in Round Rock, and in Flower Mound, he saw a need for a local chapter – some could not attend the Dallas or Fort Worth chapters because of the distance.

Crossley said Ringmacher was the visionary for the chapter, which was chartered in 2001.

The camaraderie and understanding found in MOAA is important, Ringmacher said.

“We all served, we all went through the same thing,” he said.

Now more than 100 members strong, the North DFW Military Officers Association chapter has been recognized as one of MOAA’s most outstanding chapters for six years.

In this and other activities, Crossley said his fellow soldier has found ways to promote the values for which he once fought.

“He just still continues to make the community better,” Crossley said, “which we all benefit from.”

Ruth Haesemeyer is Lewisville/Flower Mound neighborsgo editor. You can reach her via e-mail at rhaesemeyer@neighborsgo.com .

Editor's note: Retired Army Col. Nelson Ringmacher suggested that we take the pictures for this article at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Flower Mound. He said the main reason was to let the community know about the memorial, which he said is the only Flower Mound tribute to veterans’ service. It is located on Eastglen Drive just north of the intersection of Eastglen Drive and Dixon Lane, about halfway between Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Road, and Marcus High School, 5707 Morriss Road.