Ralph Falconbury joined the USMC Delayed Entry Program in January of 1984 while in high school. In October of 1984 he went to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego California and spent November December and January in boot camp. He was assigned to 2nd Recruit Battalion Hotel Company Platoon 2119, with Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Battle, Sergeant Rhodes, Sergeant Maestre, Sergeant Bach, and Corporal Venegas. 

  Upon graduation day February 1, 1985 he was given orders to Basic Supply School at Camp Lejeune North Carolina then on to 2nd Force Service Support Group, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company Supply Platoon Camp Lejeune North Carolina. There he also completed courses in Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare, CounterTerrorism and Basic Machine Gunners Course. 

After several promotions as well as Meritorious Mast Accommodations for Superious Performance he was assigned to 2nd Marine Division, UNITAS XXVII/WATC-86, where he deployed to South America (Puerto Rico, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chili and Brazil) teaching locals Marine Corps Tactics. While deployed at sea he earned the Naval traditions and certifications of Order of the Spanish Main, Order of the Ditch and Shellback. 

In 1988 Corporal Falconbury reenlisted for another 4 years in the Marine Corps and given orders to 1st Radio Battalion, Fleet Marine Force Pacific at Kaneohe Bay Hawaii with Supply Platoon. He was sent to Non-Commissioned Officers School, and was in the middle of it when all personnel were sent back to there parent units to deploy for Operation Desert Shield which turned into Operation Desert Storm and the Gulf War. 

Corporal Falconbury was then assigned to Marine Corps Base Property Control Fleet Marine Force Pacific while at Kaneohe Bay, overseeing the distribution and return of all base equipment from deployment. 

Corporal Falconbury qualified on the rifle range every year during his 8 years in the Marine Corps and every year qualifies Expert with both Rifle and Pistol. 

Corporal Falconbury earned the Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and National Defense Award before getting out of the Marine Corps in 1992. After the Marine Corps, Ralph began competing in Mixed Martial Arts tournaments as he has studied various arts throughout the years while in and out of the Marines and finally opening his own Mixed Martial Arts Academy and Cage Fighter School. Falconbury Warrior Concepts amassed numerous medals, championship belts and titles over the years. 

After discharging from the Marine Corps, Ralph went to work for the Illinois Department of Corrections at Danville Correctional Center as a Correctional Officer, then transferred to Robinson Correctional Center as a Correctional Officer, and finally to Taylorville Correctional Center as a Correctional Officer where he was promoted to Supply Supervisor 1 and the Supply Supervisor 2 before finally retiring after 25 years. 

Upon retiring from MMA and from IDOC, Ralph began his retirement by opening a business called As Above So Below, Cemetery Restoration and Preservation specializing in Headstone Cleanings. He attends and gives numerous classes and workshops every year giving instruction on the maintenance and care as well as Restoration and Proper Safe Cleaning Methods for the various types of Headstones and Markers in local cemeteries.  Ralph specializes in caring for and cleaning of Military and Masonic Headstones as Ralph is also a 32 degree Mason from Blue Lodge Palestine, York Rite Lodge Bridgeport and Scottish Rite Danville. 

If your ever visiting Ralph’s hometown of Tower Hill, stop by the park across the street from where he grew up and visit the Tower Hill Veterans Monument and you can see his name inscribed there upon the monument. 

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