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H<em>oward Wade Richards</em>, known as “Boodler” to many of his classmates because of his great love for ice cream and other “boodle” and called “Rich” in later years, passed away on 12 January 1988 while visiting with family in Concord, New Hampshire.</p>
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Howard was born in New Jersey on 3 December 1922, the son of Edward M. and Dorothy (Barrett) Richards. His father was a cabinet maker for Thomas Edison, but while still young the family moved to Stratford, New York and a farm high in the Adirondack Mountains. It was there that Rich started his lifelong love affair with the outdoors and in particular with hunting and fishing.</p>
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Howard entered West Point after having graduated from high school as both the class valedictorian and as the class goat—his was a graduating class of one. While very different from the rural surroundings he was used to, Rich made a quick adjustment to cadet life among the “Flankers” and through his strong self-discipline, had little trouble being a good student and dealing with the system he was a sharing and giving roommate and could always be counted on for academic help or taking jobs from others on the duty roster. He was known for his keen sense of humor and for his many practical jokes. His humor gave him great strength in later years through many trying situations and was also a source of joy and comfort to his family.</p>
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While a cadet, he continued his love of the outdoors, frequenting Lake Popolopoen and other local environs looking for trout and bass. Throughout his life he always returned to the farm in Stratford for vacations and to re-energize himself by trekking through the mountains, fishing the streams and ponds, and looking for the elusive deer—which always seemed to just evade him.</p>
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Boodler was quiet in demeanor, but a commitment from him was sure to be complied and carried out in good fashion. He was a person of quiet strength and deep feeling, with an abiding love for his family and friends and a deep commitment to the Army and his country, He was a man’s man in the best sense of the term.</p>
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He picked the Infantry as his branch of choice and rose to the rank of colonel during his thirty years of service. Following the Basic Officer’s Course at Fort Benning, his first assignment was as a platoon leader in the 423rd infantry, 106th Infantry Division. The unit was overrun during the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Forest) in December 1944, and Rich became a prisoner of war until freed by the 4th Armorerd Division just before V-E Day 1945. Luckily, his strength and humor came to his aid, along with the comfort of being with several of his West Point classmates during these trying times.</p>
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His career following World War II took him many interesting places over the next thirty years. He was a company commander at Fort McClellan, Alabama and then became involved with counterintelligence, first at Fort Holabird, Maryland and then in Japan. It was while he was at Fort Holabird that Rich met his future wife, Marjorie Quick of St. Paul, Minnesota. Marge was an ensign in the Coast Guard at the time. Rich returned from Japan in January 1948 and married Marge at the Cadet Chapel.</p>
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Following his assignment in Japan and the birth of his son Bruce, Rich returned to Fort Benning as an instructor at the Infantry School. While there, daughter Robyn was born.</p>
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Than it was on to Command and General Staff College, Fort Dix and even a stint at the Arctic Warfare School in Alaska. Next came a tour with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and the birth of twin daughters Janet and Jennifer.</p>
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Upon his return stateside, Rich went to the Armed Forces Staff College followed by a year at Governor’s Island, New York and the first of two tours in Korea. He also found time to obtain a master’s degree in foreign relations at Georgetown.</p>
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The family started moved to Falls Church, Virginia in 1962, and Marge continues to live there to this day. While in Falls Church, Rich’s career included tours at the Pentagon, the Army War College, and perhaps his most satisfying duty assignment, as brigade commander of the 3rd Brigade, 7th infantry Division irt Korea. Rich retired after a final tour at the Pentagon in 1974.</p>
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Rich’s military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Ribbon with cluster, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge.</p>
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Following his retirement, Rich worked for several years with Computer Science Corpo­ration in Falls Church. He retired from CSC in 1982.</p>
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In his later years Rich was stricken with Parkinson’s disease. While difficult for him, especially in light of his active lifestyle and love for the outdoors, Rich bore the hardships occasioned by this disease with quiet deter­mination and dignity. His strength was a source of pride and inspiration for those who loved him, and his quiet humor helped everyone put his disease aside to enjoy the man and his life. </p>
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Rich loved his country and his alma mater. He loved his family above all else and reveled in the joys that his five grandchildren brought him. He was perhaps happiest when at Stratford for Thanksgiving, surrounded by his family and the mountains he loved so well.</p>
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Howard Richards was a quiet man but a resolute one. His life was truly lived on the precepts of ‘‘Duly, Honor, Country.” All who knew him or served with him were enriched by his wholesomeness and his deep strength of character. Of him it can truly be said, “Well done, Be thou at peace.”</p>