Chopping through the jungle brush with a machete in his hand, Lt. Ralph Meshon carries the supplies vital to the American troops in Taynihn, Vietnam, 15 miles from the border of Cambodia.

Gliding through the air as if “Weightlessness” was his middle name, Ralph Meshon completes a triple salchow and lands like a swan on a lake, while the stunned audience rises in appreciation at an outdoor rink in Atlantic City, NJ.

Poised to perfection before a room full of eager students at Neshaminy High School, Mr. Ralph Meshon graces them with his knowledge of the dramatic craft that he has come to learn and love.

Neshaminy’s drama teacher of many years certainly has led an interesting life, and not just during his teaching years.

“My first contact came through performance in dance and ice-skating,” said Meshon, in recalling how he gained an interest in the theater. He started out as a figure skater early in high school, back in his hometown of Atlantic City.

“I lived in a neighborhood that would fit very well into The Sopranos, but I’m not going to name names because some of these people are still alive,” said Meshon, remembering his adventurous childhood escapades.

However, having the mafia next door was not always beneficial. There were very few influential figures to help him along the way.
“The 50s was an idoless period,” offered Meshon. “Anybody who could be considered an idol wasn’t particularly worth looking at.”

His path led him from skating in high school to joining the advanced ROTC program at LaSalle University. “If I could do it over again, I’d go right from high school to professional ice-skating. In a second,” reflected Meshon.

The ROTC program eventually led to active duty in the Vietnam War. Meshon was made Lieutenant and given the title Arial Supply Officer in Benhoa Air Force Base in South Vietnam. From there, he was brought to the dangerous and rugged conditions of Taynihn where he earned a Purple Heart for injuries incurred in battle.

“It was late at night and I was wearing only my traditional army boxer shorts, a flak jacket and my helmet when I heard the particular blast of a mortar shell,” Meshon revealed. “After hitting the deck with the rest of the soldiers, I reached up and felt blood on the back of my neck. Thank God it was only a flesh wound. So mine’s kind of like a ‘cheap’ Purple Heart, but it’s still a Purple Heart.”

After serving his time in Vietnam, Meshon had a multitude of opportunities before him. “I sent out applications pretty much everywhere in this particular case,” Meshon disclosed.

As luck would have it, he ended up teaching speed-reading at a small suburban school before returning to obtain his masters in English education.

“I almost sort of fell into teaching,” claimed Meshon. “I just kept on doing it. One thing led to another.”

After receiving his masters degree from Temple University, Meshon went on to undertake a plethora of teaching positions, from physical education instructor, to English departmentchairperson here at Neshaminy.

“Next year is the target year,” Meshon divulged, referring to his retirement. “I hope to get back to skating. I can’t do what I could when I was younger, but I’m sticking to it. I guess that’s the old, hard-headed Italian in me.”

Meshon then proceeded to demonstrate his capabilities for us by showing the proper form of a double axle, and proving that although he’s been over the hill, down the road and past the babbling brook, he still hasn’t past his prime.

All in all, Meshon has led a fulfilling life with a fulfilling career, his teaching years being a large part of it. “In the classroom, you get to know a student; but in drama, you get to know a person.”

Meshon’s students were fortunate enough to know a person whose personal touches and memorable quirks will remain within the halls of Neshaminy High School long after he has past through them.