Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Richards, USMC (Ret.) served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He would be awarded the Navy Cross. His award citation reads: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Thomas A. Richards (MCSN: 2417861), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 5 and 6 June 1969 as a Fire Team Leader with Company H, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. When his platoon initiated contact with a company-sized hostile force occupying well-camouflaged positions on a cliff overlooking a trail, and were subjected to a heavy volume of fire, Corporal Richards, during th