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THE GREAT GOLDEN BELLS of Heaven must have sounded forth in perfect melody, and the host of Angels must have gathered in eager reception when the soul of First Lieutenant Richard E. Hood was ushered into Heaven. For a young, true, and noble son of the most high God, who was faithful unto death, had now received the crown of eternal glory and life everlasting. It was for him, we know, a day of glorious victory-a victory of one who remembered the words of our Lord, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (His Country).</p>
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Richard’s short life was one of dedication to Duty, Honor. Country, God, and family. His character was an inspiration to and was admired by young and old. It brought him wide recognition. In high school he was President of the Student Council, Vice president of the Florida Association of Student Councils, and a representative not only to the American Legion Florida Boys State, but also to Boys Nation in Washington. He was President of the National Honor Society. He was chosen by his classmates as “the one most likely to succeed” and as the most outstanding member of his class.</p>
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At West Point he was a member of the Debate Team, Student Council and Forum, Public Relations Council, and the Sky Diving Club. At graduation, he was one of those selected to represent the Academy and Class of 1966 on the American Broadcasting Company television program, “Scope,” as a volunteer for Vietnam.</p>
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Following graduation from both Ranger and Airborne schools, he spent five months at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was presented a plaque by his men that expressed “deep respect and admiration for your leadership and understanding, a man we are proud to serve under.”</p>
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His last assignment was with Company A, 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade-he was in Vietnam only two weeks.</p>
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Lieutenant Hood has been honored posthumously by receiving the Silver Star for gallantry in action, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Order of the Republic of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm. A living memorial has been established for him in the erecting and furnishing of a youth recreation building on grounds given by the American Legion Post in Winter Haven, and by contributions from friends. The bronze dedicatory plaque, presented by his close friend and classmate, First Lieutenant William Karl Bergman, reads in part “He did his Duty as he saw it, with Honor he served his Country, now he serves his God.” The local Daughters of the American Revolution have named a chapter for him. The 1967 session of Florida Boys State was dedicated to his memory, and tribute was paid him in the House of Representatives by Congressman James A. Haley of Florida, who appointed him to the Academy.</p>
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Friends and classmates may be interested in the citation accompanying his Silver Star: “On 22 June 1967, Lieutenant Hood’s platoon was in a company movement deep in the jungles of Kontum province. Moving through dense vegetation, the platoon made contact with a North Vietnamese Army unit estimated to be of battalion size, and immediately sustained heavy casualties. Ordering his men to seek cover and set up a defensive perimeter. Lieutenant Hood moved through the intense incoming enemy automatic weapons Fire to insure that his platoon was intact.</p>
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“Through the ensuing seven-hour battle he personally directed the retaliatory fires of his platoon, repeatedly exposing himself to hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. Although the unit was outnumbered and casualties were beginning to mount, Lieutenant Hood remained calm regardless of the fact that he lost communications almost immediately. Lieutenant Hood, realizing that the unit was completely surrounded and out of ammunition, continued to fight the enemy to the last with trip flares, constantly giving words of encouragement to his men.”</p>
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Richard was the only son of Eloise and Elmo Hood. He will always be remembered proudly by them, his sister Christine, his family and friends-and, we trust, by his Country and his God. For, “To live in the hearts and minds of one’s friends is to live forever.”<br />
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