Ralph Bowman Hoxie Memorial Stone

Ralph B. Hoxie was born on February 14th, 1893 in Cotuit, Massachusetts. He enrolled in the United States Naval Reserve Force at the Boston Navy Yard on March 23, 1917. He served as a Mechanist mate, 2nd Class and was called to active service on April 26, 1917. He was first assigned to duty at the headquarters 1st Naval District in Boston. Soon after he was assigned to USS Bonita and promoted to Chief Mechanist’s Mate. His duty station during World War I was the Navel Station in Chatham, Massachusetts. He was assigned to a unit protecting the coast looking for German submarines. Just one year after active duty Chief Mechanist’s Mate Ralph B. Hoxie was acting engineer on Patrol Boat 610 on April 27th, 1918, where the boat was at Stage Harbor in Chatham. Nearby other sailors were testing rockets. One rocket was fired towards the harbor, as it stuck the water it glanced passed the boat striking Hoxie in the head a fatally killing him. He was brought back to Cotuit and buried in his family plot at Mosswood Cemetery. His memorial stone was built in 192 and is located at the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Putnam Avenue in Cotuit, Massachusetts.