User:Captric0317/sandbox

Richard Earl Bucklew, Richard Bucklew, Ric Bucklew, Richard E Bucklew. Born on November 29,1951 in Cook county Hospital, Chicago Illinois to Robert Earl Bucklew and Frances Imogene Bucklew. Richard lived in Fox Lake Illinois till the age of 6 where he attended both public school and a Lutheran school. His parents moved to Lake Zurich Illinois and then to St Ann Missouri when his father was employed by McDonnell Douglas corporation during the early Space program.

His father subsequently bought an 80 acre farm 5 miles north of Troy Missouri where Richard entered junior high a school at Buchanan High in grade 8. This was his most formative years, having spent time in suburbia and then maturing in rural Missouri.

Robert Earl Bucklew formed a profitable farm growing corn, cattle and pigs. He worked full time at McDonnell Douglas on the Appollo and Gemini Space programs which is where Richard gained an interest in science.

The farm and surrounding areas were rich in archeological sites and paleontology from the Paleozoic era. Richard found and collected many fossils in his youth.

Richard graduated high school as an average student with a reputation for being a “a little wild”. He joined the Marine Corps after the death in Viet Nam of Mark Ammon his high school friend.

Richard went to boot camp in San Diego California and was further trained as a tank crewman at Camp Pendleton. He received orders to report to 2nd Marine Divisions Tank Battalion in Camp Lejuene NC. When processing through receiving barracks he volunteered for Force Reconnaissance duty. The Sargent working the receiving desk turned him away. Undaunted he returned to the sergeant and ask to speak to his Lieutenant. The Lieutenant asked if he was willing to scuba dive and jump out of airplanes he responded enthusiastically.

He was then sent to 2nd Force Recon Company located at Camp Geiger with 5 other volunteers. There he was subjected to a grueling day of physical endurance testing starting with a 5 mile run to the testing area which was located near a coal power plant.

He and the other 4 applicants were forced to climb a coal slag hill many times as well as snake through a flooded ditch along side the route back. Then they finished with a return run of 5 miles where PFC Bucklew amd one other candidate finished.

Richard spent the next year in training at attending parachute jump, submarine operations, scuba school, HALO school, Amphibious Reconnaissance and more. He was then sent to Vietnam where he was stationed with provisional rifle company awaiting a slot at 1st force recon. He participated in combat operations with provisional rifles and was TDY to 1st Force Recon. He was transferred to D company 3rd Recon Bn and was sent back to Vietnam for operations from a ship.