in february 1941, second lieutenant ramsey was assigned to the 11th cavalry regiment at campo, california. when volunteers were requested for the 26th cavalry regiment (philippine scouts) in the philippines, he jumped at the opportunity. ramsey recalled later that "... i didn't even know where it was, except that it was a warm country, it was tropical and they had a good polo team there." he had been on the oklahoma military academy polo team and played on the losing side of a polo match in the philippines the day before japan attacked pearl harbor; the umpire was major general jonathan m. wainwright (who would assume command of the south west pacific area after general douglas macarthur was evacuated to australia).