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.
Sign Guestbook
17 Condolence(s)
Major Bruce A. Davie, USAR-Ret.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Aug., 29th, 2015 was a great day! MAJ Dale W. Richardson finally came home! I wore his MIA/POW bracelet, every day, since 1982. Even though I never knew him, we were in RVN in 1970. I vowed that I would never forget him! Welcome Home & Rest in Eternal Peace! May God bless you & your family & may God Bless the United States of America.
Retired Navy
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Welcome home, Major Richardson! The sacrifice you made -- and that of your family over the past 45 years -- will never be forgotten. It was truly our honor to stand with you today and to welcome you home. God speed, Warrior....
Cherish Ginn and Marlin Ginn Jr
Friday, August 28, 2015
Welcome home soldier so glad you are back home with your family and love ones. As you watch from above as we all watch you come home with your love one. I hope you smile and know you were loved and missed and never forgotten. Welcome home and may you R.I.P ♥
Friday, August 28, 2015
Cyndi Perez
Friday, August 28, 2015
Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace! The family is in my thought and prayers as they lay this hero to rest!
Patsy Usrey
Friday, August 28, 2015
Welcome home.. Finally RIP
Jim McCrain
Friday, August 28, 2015
Welcome Home, Soldier! I am so sorry that it has taken this long for us to bring you home. I pray that your Family may now have the closure that they so desperately need, that you may now Rest In Peace on your own soil, and that the rest of your Brothers in Arms, still missing, may also make that final flight back home.
clinton hackworth
Friday, August 28, 2015
It was a great honor to stand by our fire trucks and salute him one more time. My father is a vet as well and I'm proud to be a firefighter for this great community and proud to pay my respects in full dress to the major welcome home and rest easy!! Thank you for fighting for us ! God bless sir!
Carol mabry gillihan
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Welcome home and may you rest in peace. Prayers for your family they now have closer and will meet you again with in Heaven. Thank you for your service to America and to all people.
Beth Gammill
Thursday, August 27, 2015
So glad they have him home and thank you for serving our country
William Richardson
Thursday, August 27, 2015
I am not a Relative. I have worn a POW/MIA Red Bracelet with the name of Dale W. Richardson for over 35 years now. I was in Vietnam in 1969-1970. Now that Dale is back Home I will be giving a relative of Dale's the POW/MIA Red Bracelet that I have worn for these many years. I plan on attending Dale's Service on August 29. My Best to Dale's Family and God's Blessings!
Janice Smith
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Thank you for your service and we welcome your remains home, I hope you are watching from above with your mother and father and see the hero's welcome you are getting here on earth. Rest in peace hero.
Diane Osburn
Thursday, August 27, 2015
I am thankful for his service and closure for remaining family . Rest in peace .
irene Hamill
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Proud of your service
Augusta Moore
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Thank you for serving our country and giving your life for our freedom. My husband Howard Moore is also a Vietnam War veteran.
Bob and Pat Reeves
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
So glad this hero is home. Thinking of all of you. We shall never forget.
Larry Moss
Monday, August 24, 2015
I met Dale on my first full day in Vietnam as a member of Hq Co., 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor. He was the Platoon Leader of the Mortar Platoon. As I was assigned to the Scout Platoon, I didn't have much contact with but do remember that grin he seemed to always have to have.. Later when I found that he had served a 2nd tour with the Dreadnaught Battalion and was MIA, I still remember the utter sadness I felt that day and long afterwards. I attended the funeral of the pilot of that flight, Michael varnado who was from my home town and was only identified in the late '80s. Having a connection to both young men makes Dale's coming home much more poignant. My heartfelt condolences to Dale's family and friends for your anguish all the years wondering. And my joy is overflowing that this nightmare is finally over. God bless and keep each and everyone. .