On This Day, 8-NOV 1969, We Honor a Fallen Hero
Richard Lyle Adams was born 28-FEB 1945 in Florissant MO. Richard was the son of Mrs. Hazel Helton Adams (1924-2015) and Mr. Otis Adams. He had one sister, Sandra Orf of O’Fallon MO.
Richard was an E6, Staff Sergeant, a bridge specialist in the Army. He served in the 1st Infantry Division, E Company, 1st Engineer Battalion from 1963-1969 serving multiple tours in Vietnam. He was killed in action on 8-NOV 1969 of multiple fragmentation wounds while a passenger on a military watercraft on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered in Bình Duong, Vietnam. He was in country six months on his last tour. Richard was awarded the Silver Star, a Bronze Star for Valor, a Bronze Star for Merit, and posthumous Purple Heart.
Posted by a friend and “fellow river rat” on 15-DEC 2015 on vvmf.org:
“HEY SARGE, It has been a long time since we talked. You have no idea how many times I have thought of you. I will never forget the look on your face when we retrieved Knight’s body out of the river. We were together in my boat on another night when you said you would give $20 for a decent cup of coffee. You were gone a few nights later. I left one for you at the wall. When we meet again we’ll have one together. For certain and roger that. Till then my friend.”…
Posted by Sandy on 10-OCT 2000 on vvmf.org:
IN HONOR OF RICHARD ADAMS…..
Richard was my stepbrother and though I didn’t know him well, I had great respect for him. Rich returned to Vietnam four times. His reason? He was single and if he went another man with a wife & family wouldn’t have to go. What greater honor is there than to offer one’s life to save another…
Richard is on the Wall on Panel 16W, Line 044. Richard’s funeral was at St. Charles Borromeo Church in St. Charles Missouri, and he is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Military Cemetery.
Richard Lyle Adams is honored and remembered at the Mid America Veterans Museum. For more stories about our local heroes, visit www.mavm.org.
For more information, click on the pdf below:
On This Day 8-NOV Richard L. Adams
