Richard Alexandra Ware
Specialist Five
B CO, 65TH ENG BN, 25TH INF DIV, USARV Army of the United States Bay Springs, Mississippi November 22, 1946 to August 24, 1968 RICHARD A WARE is on the Wall at Panel W46, Line 10 |
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It started with a short request from his sister to post his photo. "This is my brother. Thank you. God Bless all of you involved in this loving project." --- Gail Randolph, August 9, 2012. | ||||
As more emails were exchanged, the details of the life and loss of Richard Alexandra "Dickie" Ware were revealed by the family. One of the first notices of Richard's death appearing in a local paper was: On Saturday, August 31, the Leader-Call paper of Laurel, Mississippi posted a notice of
funeral for the funeral on Monday September 2, 1968. It read:
"Full military services for SP5 Richard A. (DIckie) Ware, 21, a resident of Bay Springs who was killed in action in
Vietnam, will be held Monday at 3 p.m. from Bay Springs Methodist Church. The Reverands Fred Thompson, James Williamson,
and T. Barton West will officiate with burial in Bay Springs Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Elmon Ware, Bay Springs; and two sisters, Misses Mary and Gail Ware of Bay Springs. Memory Chapel of Bay Springs is
in charge of arrangements."
Following the funeral, the papers in the area posted a notice like: | ||||
Richard "Dickie" Ware's marker in the Bay Springs Cemetary. Approximately two and a half years later, Dickie's father, a veteran of world War II, also a Corporal, passed away and was buried in Bay Springs Cemetery with his son. | ||||
The Virtual Wall learned from the family that he received a Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service shortly after his death and another for heroism later that was submitted by his friend and Company Commander, then 1st Lieutenant Jim Barry. The Bronze Star for Meritorious Service was recorded with The Virtual Wall and they are working with the family to record information for the second award for Valor. Citations for both awards are next below. Below is a family provided newspaper article about the circumstances surrounding the death of Dickie Ware in Vietnam as described in the Citation for his Bronze Star for Herosim. The article was published some time after the signing of his award in December 1968. In addition to the Bronze Star, Dickie was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds that ultimately led to his death.
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The January 16, 1969 edition of the Leader-Call of Laurel announced:
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"There is a newspaper article that my sister [Mary Russell] has and it is about Dickie's Lieutenant coming to visit our mom [she passed in 2009] and the struggle he had just to come and see her and tell her some stories of our brother and how he was killed. Until he came to see her he never knew if Dickie had received the Bronze Star. He was the one that had put in the recommendation for it. " | ||||
In another note, Gail wrote "I have attached the letter from the Army my sister Mary received when requesting his medals again. It does mention Dickie was authorized the Military Merit Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Unit Citation." As a result of the letter above, SP5 Richard Ware was entitled to wear the following medals on his uniform -- -- and was included in the family's medal shadow frame | ||||
Latest events from the family that honor the memory of their brother, Dickie Ware:
-- Ware Family & The Virtual Wall | ||||
Richard's name is also posted on the Mississippi Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Ocean Springs, at the bottom panel 20W. Roses left below Dickie's photo by family at dedication of Mississippi Veterans Memorial on May 30, 1997 -- Ware Family & The Virtual Wall |
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