Dale W. Richardson

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Service Schedule
Flatwoods Baptist Church
2709 E. Main; Highway 14 West
Mountian View, AR  72560
Saturday, August 29, 2015
2:00PM
Cemetery
Flatwoods Cemetery
Highway 14
Mountain View, AR  72560
Dale W. Richardson

of Cambodia,

May 5, 1941 - May 2, 1970

In memory

Major Dale W. Richardson

Dale Wayne Richardson was born on May 5, 1941, in Stone County, Ark., to Carl and Edith (Lancaster) Richardson.

He attended public schools in Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, graduated from White Hall, Ill., High School in 1959, and attended Western Illinois University.

Dale was a skilled musician and amateur chemist, and had a life-long fascination with all types of aircraft. Vision restrictions prevented him from becoming a pilot, yet he was a decorated marksman.

Dale joined the United States Army in May 1961 and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry in Germany, where he worked on secret defense contingency plans at the height of the Cold War.

He graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla. in 1966, and was promoted to lieutenant. He then joined the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor in Vietnam and served in combat until August 1967. He reenlisted for another two years and, following his marriage, returned to Vietnam and was finishing a second tour in the spring of 1970.

On April 30, 1970, President Richard Nixon announced a US incursion into Cambodia to destroy supplies stockpiled there by the North Vietnamese. On May 2, then-Captain Richardson was a passenger on a UH-1H (''Huey'') helicopter on a routine resupply mission in South Vietnam. The crew didn't know that Dale was in fact carrying classified paperwork regarding the Cambodia operation. Ironically, bad weather forced the aircraft into Cambodian airspace, and it was hit by enemy fire. The Huey landed in a rice field, and all passengers disembarked and took cover; as the enemy charged the site, several soldiers returned fire.

One man made his way to a U.S. base camp after several days in the jungle, two died as prisoners-of-war, and two POWs were released in 1973.

Dale and two others were listed as missing in action until their remains were found together near the crash site and identified in January 2015. Dale had lost his life on that fateful day in 1970, three days before his 29th birthday. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of major.

Dale married Dianne (Leum) Anderson of Wisconsin on June 15, 1968, and had lived in Cashton and Sparta, Wis. In the 44 years between Dale's death and the discovery of his remains, his father, mother, wife, and brother-in-law, Richard Bowles, passed away.

Surviving are Dale's brother, Larry (Marianne) Richardson, Rochester, N.Y.; sister, Nancy Bowles, Jefferson City, Mo.; daughters, Jacqueline (Brent) Garberg, Ramsey, Minn.; and Gloria (Nick) Vranak, Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Melissa and Amanda Vranak, Ariana and Adam Olson, and Levi Garberg; nephew and niece, John and Meaghan Richardson; and many cousins and other extended family.


MAJ Richardson's remains are scheduled to arrive at Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday, August 27, and be escorted to Mountain View, Ark. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 29, at 2:00 p.m. at Flatwoods Missionary Baptist Church in Mountain View. Borne by U.S. Army pallbearers, Dale will be accorded full military honors and interred near his parents in Flatwoods Cemetery.

In 1979, an MIA marker was erected in MAJ Richardson's memory at Arlington National Cemetery. Common remains of the three soldiers recovered recently in Cambodia will be interred together at Arlington on October 20, 2015, with high honors. The public is invited to attend.

Dale's family deeply appreciates the Department of Defense's decades-long search for Dale's remains.
They thank the U.S. Army Casualty Assistance Centers and ceremonial personnel, the congregation of Flatwoods Church, Mountain View VFW Post 4766, Patriot Riders, Arkansas Highway Patrol, local law enforcement, and Roller Coffman- Crouch Funeral Home for their support and assistance.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans of America.


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9 Condolence(s)
Robin Gerard
Ridge, NY
Liked
Monday, January 30, 2023

I wore Dales POW bracelet for many years until it broke in half from putting it off and on. I also have a rubbing from the Wall.
I have periodically done searches for updates.
I am sure it has lifted the weight of the family to put him to rest.

Frank Plichta
Galax, VA
Liked
Tuesday, July 13, 2021

In May 1970, I was appointed a military "Survivor Assistance Officer" for Dale. I met with his parents ( Carl and Edith Richardson) on May 10, 1970, 8 days after Dale went missing on May 2, 1970 in Vietnam. For the next two years I periodically updated the parents about Dale's circumstances. Dale's wife refused to meet with me because she was upset that Dale was on the helicopter that went missing. He just went along for the ride and was shot down.

Jane Miller
Weston, WI
Liked
Wednesday, November 11, 2015

To the family of Dale Richardson - it seems only fitting that today, on Veterans Day, I finally found contact information for the family of Capt. Richardson, whose name is engraved on a P.O.W bracelet I have had for 45 years.
I am so happy that he is finally home after so many years. Please know that he has been in my thoughts and prayers for so long. If you would like me to send the bracelet for his children or grandchildren, please email me and I will be happy and honored to mail it to you. Many blessings to all of you.

Jim Lites
Searcy, AR
Liked
Sunday, August 30, 2015

To the family of Major Richardson,
It was truly an honor to stand the Patriot Guard flag line yesterday for such a hero as Major Richardson. All of you are in our prayers. May you find peace in the days to come.

LD and Martha Everett
Mountain View, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 29, 2015

Thank you for your service. May your soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Retha Miller
Melbourne, AR,
Liked
Thursday, August 27, 2015

God bless Mr. Richarson for his service to our country. Prayers for the family as they lay this great man to rest. 🙏🇺🇸

Janice Smith
Fox, AR
Liked
Thursday, August 27, 2015

Thank you for your service and the ultimate gift that you gave to protect us here. God bless you and rest in peace now that you are at home.

Col(R) Norm Mekdsy
Englewood, FL
Liked
Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Never Forgotten.

SGT Donna Elliott, USAR, Ret
Pleasant Grove, AR
Liked
Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Welcome home hero.