Richard L Fahrenbruch

The database page for Richard L Fahrenbruch

29 May 2003 He was my father. Lori Fahrenbruch Martin lmroseluvr@aol.com Fahrenbruch Awarded Medals for Bravery Sgt. Richard L. Fahrenbruch has received several honors for bravery in action during the first six months of his tour of duty in Vietnam. He has received a unit citation, a silver star, and an air medal. He has also been recommended for the bronze star and received four recent promotions. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fahrenbruch of 639 South Loomis Street, he is a member of the First Airmobile Cavalry Division of the Army. A student at Fort Collins High School, Sgt. Fahrenbruch entered the Army in January of 1967. He received basic training at Ft. Bliss, Tex., and advanced training at Ft. Polk, La. Prior to entering the Army he was employed eqight years with the Mawson Lumber and Hardware Co. Fahrenbruch Dies in Fight at Khe Sanh The parents of Army Sgt. Richard L. Fahrenbruch received a wire notifying them that their son was killed in action in Vietnam on April 3. He was 27. Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenbruch of South Loomis Street said the telegram indicated their son was part of a force attempting to liberate the beleaguered Marine outpost at Khe Sahn. Sgt. Fahrenbruch was a member of the First Air Cavalry Division and was Sergeant of the Third Platoon. He enlisted in January of 1967 and was sent to Vietnam in June of that year. "He said in his last letter that he would be home June 25 after serving his year's tour of duty there," said his father. "The only thing he said in his letters about the war was that he was doing his job." Sgt. Fahrenbruch was born in Fort Collins on March 29, 1941. He attended Fort Collins High School and worked at the Mawson Lumber Co. for eight years prior to his enlistment. He and his wife were divorsed. Those surviving in addition to his parents include three children, Lori, Larry, and Lisa, all of Laporte; a brother, Lloyd Fahrenbruch of 1700 Laporte Avenue; and a grandmother, Mrs. Goldie Claypool of 619 West Oak Street. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Warren Funeral Chapel after the body has been returned to Fort Collins. Remembering Editor, The Coloradoan Nature has dropped a blanket of snow on the grave of our loved one. May he rest in peace. There are lots of nice things to remember - his boundless energy for work or play, his genuine friendliness, his jolly laugh, his really unique sense of humor coupled with a broad smile for all. This undeclared war had changed him some. His frequent letters told us that. A few phrases etched in our minds are these: "Max won't be coming back with me. It wasn't easy to go out to pick up his gear" "I have never felt so close to God as today. The mortar that landed by my foxhole didn't go off. It was a dud." "Sorry Mom, but I'm not exactly in Supply anymore. It's hard to explain, but I can't stand not being out there with my buddies." "I pray for the strength to guide the men in my platoon. If something were to happen to just one, I don't know what I would do." "I can't eat lunch today, so I thought I'd write instead. I lost two of my men just outside Hue." Each letter ended with "Don't worry about me. I'm just fine and going to stay that way." His last letter arrived only hours after the telegram telling of his death. It started "When you receive this we will be in Khe Sanh. Tomorrow we start the big push." Some day we will read the letters again. He seemed to know just what he was fighting for. We may have doubts about this strange war, but complacent we would never want to be. We won't relax until all of Dick's buddies are home - the 1st Cavalry, the 101st Airborne, the Americal, the 9th and 4th divisions, all the brave Marines, and every American fighting in that far-off, war-scarred land. Mr. and Mrs. DAN FAHRENBRUCH 639 South Loomis Street (EDITOR'S NOTE - Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenbruch are the parents of Sgt. Richard Fahrenbruch who recently was killed in action in Vietnam.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his daughter, Lori Fahrenbruch Martin lmroseluvr@aol.com  29 May 2003

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 07/01/2003