Richard "Porky" Martin received his Purple Heart and Medal of Honor in an envelope sent to his house. He's the gentleman that was on Channel 6 News for finding a war buddy after 63 years. I think we could do a little better then getting Oh by the way we forgot here's your medals in a envelope.
He served on the USS Forrestal during the worst fire incident of 1968.
Dad I love and miss you so much, you were a true hero.I love you, all my love, Sherry
I am honoring my Uncle, Richard Erico, who was in Hawaii when they were bombed. Luckily he lived to tell about it. He went on to be a wonderful husband, father and uncle. I love you Uncle Richard.
I want family and friends to know how proud I am of Richard. He has suffered greatly since his tour of duty with the US Marines, 1966-1970. He has survived it all and continues to cope. He has worked very hard to get to where he is today. Please support all our troops; you really do not know how much they need our support, especially when they return home. Learn from the Vietnam veterans.
This man is one of the bravest men to serve his country as a Marine in the Vietnam War. He sustained several gun shot wounds and over 100 pieces of shrapnel throughout his body. He's a great father who taught our family about the history of the Vietnam War so that it never gets repeated again. My father has taken lives to survive and lost many close friends in Vietnam and to suicide when his buddies returned home who didn't receive the help the needed to treat there PTSD. Anyone who endures what my father has gone through is a HERO.
Richard told me of an experience as a member of a unit that crossed into China on an undisclosed mission. As US troops they were not supposed to be in China in the Korean conflict. They were forbidden to discuss it. They were discovered. Many were killed. He was one of a few that survived. They crossed back out of China by walking through Chinese lines via a safe passage. As he mentioned to me the severe physical and mental stress of that experience effected him greatly after his service.
I am proud of my dad for serving our wonderful country so that I may have freedom to vote, play, and worship in my church!!! We live in a bountiful nation that we are definitely free and we should not take that for granted!!!
I never got to meet you but your family will never forget you and maybe someday you will come home and the rest of the crew of The LCU-63.
In honor of Uncle Richard who survived the bombing at Pearl Harbor who lived to become a great husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend and brother in law to Bill who served in the army in Europe WWII and Lenny who was also in the navy and in the Pacific. Thank you for your sacrifices we all love you.
