Jerry J Ragland, MD

February 4, 1940 - March 6, 2021

CORONADO — Dr. Jerry Ragland was a native of rural Missouri. He earned his MD at the U.of Missouri in 1965 and completed residency training in General Surgery in 1970. He was commissioned into the US Army Medical Corps from 1970-1972 serving at Fort Benjamin in Missouri. In 1972 he entered private practice in Warrensburg, Missouri.

In 1983 Dr. Ragland was commissioned into the US Navy. His first duty station was Naval Hospital, San Diego (Balboa) where he developed one of the Navy’s first surgical endoscopy laboratories.

Dr. Ragland was advanced to Chairman of the Department of Surgery and General

Surgery Residency Program Director at Balboa in 1988. He was named General Surgery Specialty Advisor to the Surgeon General in 1992. During his years at Balboa, he personally mentored and fostered the training of numerous General Surgeons, all of whom went on to distinguished

careers in the Navy and the private practice of surgery.

In June 1995, Dr. Ragland became the Executive Officer at US Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan and eventually advanced to Commanding Officer.

In 1998 he was named as the Commanding Officer of the medical detachment on the hospital ship USNS Mercy and eventually ended his career as the Force Medical Officer for COMNAVSURFPAC. During his Naval career he was awarded several medals.

Dr. Ragland retired from the Navy as a Captain in November 2001 and lived the remainder of his life in Coronado, CA with his wife and love of his life, Joetta. He was a licensed private pilot with an instrument rating and enjoyed tennis, skiing, fishing, golf, bowling, and traveling.

Dr Ragland is survived by his beloved wife Joetta, son John H. Ragland and his wife Meaghan, stepson James Mc Cathy, and 3 granddaughters: Claire, Margaret, and Mackenzie Ragland.

Jerry was known for his honesty, kind and caring nature, openness, and common sense. He had a wide circle of friends at each stage of his life. Jerry can no longer be seen and heard, but, those lives he touched will never forget him.

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