Richard Carl Fina

The database page for Richard Carl Fina

21 December 1998 REMEMBERED by his family. gen9@cox.net

Doc, it's been over thirty years that you've been gone, but we will all have you in our hearts. To us you were the damn finest corpsman God could have given us, and we all owe you. You were our friend, and to many of us a savior, for without you many more of us would have perished to that damn war. You were always there when we needed you, no matter what the cost. Because we had dying Marines in that field, your devotion to us cost you your life. That was just you, always thinking of us and not your own well being. Well, Doc, I know God has a very special place for you up in heaven, and someday we will meet again, all of us, for what we went through maybe God will have a special place for us too. Miss you buddy. First platoon, Kilo 3/27, I didn't want you to think we forgot you. Your friend, Leroy Driffill. LeRoy.Driffill@usarc-emh2.army.mil

01 Nov 2006 Hey Doc, so far 38 bonus years in the World thanks to you. The real heros in the Corps were the Docs and you were no exception. You have given me the best years in my life by returning my life to me. I hope you finally found some time for fishing. Tomorrow is "Day of the Dead" and I will place your image on our altar to honor your life. I was blessed in the truest sense of the word to share the path of life with you, even for the briefest of moments. Peace. From a brother in blood, T E Origer 3/27 USMC Tet 68 tjara@cybermesa.com

Notes from The Virtual Wall Hudson's lone Vietnam casualty awarded Bronze Star 34 years later by Doug Stohlberg December 17, 2002 It took 34 years, but Hudson's Richard Fina was honored Thursday, posthumously receiving a Bronze Star Medal with Combat V (valor) designation for his heroics during the Vietnam War. United States Sen. Russ Feingold was in Hudson for the ceremony and several family members, including sisters Liz Steffen, Janet Nichols and Susan Carrey accepted the medal on behalf of Fina. Fina, a 1965 graduate of Hudson High School, was a Navy hospitalman serving with the Marines in Vietnam and saw plenty of combat. He saved the lives of many fellow-soldiers, but died Friday, May 24, 1968 while on "Operation Allen Brook" in southern Quang Nam Province. He was Hudson High School's lone Vietnam fatality. © The Hudson Star-Observer 2002 Used with permission On 24 May 1968 the 3rd Bn, 27th Marines lost ten men in heavy fighting around Le Bac hamlet, Go Noi Island. They were Kilo Company: HN Richard C. Fina, Hudson, WI (Bronze Star "V") LCpl Paul Lewis, Saugerties, NY LCpl Ronald J. Shewman, Los Angeles, CA Pfc Jerry L. Hilbert, Louisville, KY Pfc Joseph M. Kaminski, Wilmington, DE Pfc Gary W. Purcell, Torrance, CA M Company: Cpl Clinton Chapman, Newton, MS Cpl George W. Clark, Lakeville, CT Cpl Paul R. Theriault, Cambridge, MA LCpl Joseph D. Mack, Prairie Point, MS "You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his family. gen9@cox.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 21 Dec 1998
Last updated 11/18/2006