A Life of Service: WWII veteran Ocran ‘Ran’ Humphreys

[ HANNAH COLLINS | hcollins@kentsmith.biz]

After the end of World War II, veteran Ocran “Ran” Humphreys felt relief and gratitude.
Humphreys enlisted in August 1943, joining the Navy despite being initially turned away by a
recruiter who knew he was too young. Over the next three years, he played a vital role in the
Pacific, overseeing the ship’s engines and electrical systems during critical missions. As a Motor
Machinist Mate 1st Class aboard the LST 748, he received the news while on a convoy heading
for the invasion of southern Japan. “It would have been a great loss of human life on both
sides,” Humphreys recalled. “I was ecstatic and thankful.” Humphreys’ patriotism was evident
even before he enlisted when he quit a crucial job at a printing company that was exempt from
military service to join the Navy.
After returning home to Stanton, Virginia from the war in 1946, Humphreys resumed his
education, having had to quit school as a teenager to support his family. He returned to school,
completing high school at Augusta Military Academy and then attending Bluefield Baptist
College and serving as a Student Pastor. In 1950, he graduated and married Dorothy,
embarking on a life dedicated to ministry. For 20 years, he served as a pastor in the Panama
City area, later teaching worship traveling from church to church. His commitment to service
extended beyond the U.S. In his 60s, Humphreys joined the Peace Corps and built a health
clinic in Africa while preserving the names of boys and men who helped him in a document now
displayed in his home. Humphreys’ life has been marked by giving. “The love and friendship that
we Americans showed each other during the Depression taught me that it wasn’t what we
received that was important, but what we gave. Giving is the greatest blessing, greatest joy, and
the greatest reward of life, especially to those in dire need,” he shared.
At 97 years old, Humphreys’ journey is a reminder of resilience and the importance of giving
back to the country. His experiences offer valuable lessons to the younger generation about the
power of love, friendship, and selflessness in times of need. He is settled in Bonifay, where his
daughters have remodeled a home for him and live as his neighbors.