Slone Is Veteran Of The Month
November 10, 2021 at 1:41 a.m.
Slone Is Veteran Of The Month
By David [email protected]
Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell presented the honoree, Richmond Slone, to the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday.
He said Slone was born in Blue River, Ky., and was one of 10 children. His family moved to Claypool in 1959.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, attending basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., and advanced individual training at Fort Polk, La., before his deployment to Vietnam with the 199th Infantry Brigade. He later served with the 25th Infantry Division.
In June 1970, Slone’s company was assigned to the Cambodia Campaign. McDowell said many people may not have heard of that before. “At this point, this is where he was awarded the Purple Heart while in action,” McDowell said.
Slone served two years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in August 1971 with the rank of specialist (E4). During his service he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Expert Rifleman Badge.
After proudly serving his country, McDowell said, Slone returned to Warsaw and worked 47 years at Kimble Glass in several positions, retiring as a supervisor and consultant in 2017.
He married his wife Avis in 1983, and they have two children, Travis and Allision, and two grandchildren, Preston and Paxton.
Richmond and Avis live in Etna Green.
After McDowell presented the framed certificate to Slone, Slone thanked the Commissioners and McDowell for the recognition.
“It was an honor to serve my country. I feel truly humbled to have been chosen to be here today and accept this acknowledgement,” he said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and remember 94 of my comrades of the 5th Battalion 12th Infantry of the 199th Infantry Brigade who died while serving in Vietnam, who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us,” Slone stated.
Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell presented the honoree, Richmond Slone, to the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday.
He said Slone was born in Blue River, Ky., and was one of 10 children. His family moved to Claypool in 1959.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, attending basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., and advanced individual training at Fort Polk, La., before his deployment to Vietnam with the 199th Infantry Brigade. He later served with the 25th Infantry Division.
In June 1970, Slone’s company was assigned to the Cambodia Campaign. McDowell said many people may not have heard of that before. “At this point, this is where he was awarded the Purple Heart while in action,” McDowell said.
Slone served two years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in August 1971 with the rank of specialist (E4). During his service he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Expert Rifleman Badge.
After proudly serving his country, McDowell said, Slone returned to Warsaw and worked 47 years at Kimble Glass in several positions, retiring as a supervisor and consultant in 2017.
He married his wife Avis in 1983, and they have two children, Travis and Allision, and two grandchildren, Preston and Paxton.
Richmond and Avis live in Etna Green.
After McDowell presented the framed certificate to Slone, Slone thanked the Commissioners and McDowell for the recognition.
“It was an honor to serve my country. I feel truly humbled to have been chosen to be here today and accept this acknowledgement,” he said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and remember 94 of my comrades of the 5th Battalion 12th Infantry of the 199th Infantry Brigade who died while serving in Vietnam, who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us,” Slone stated.
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