RANCHO CORDOVA, CA, U.S.A.
U.S. AIR FORCE
SSGT, 306TH INTELLIGENCE SQUADRON, BEALE AFB, CA
04/27/2013, KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
Hundreds of service members, civilians, family and friends gathered to remember and honor the lives of four airmen KIA in Kandahar. Friends of SSGT Dickson enlightened the audience about what kind of friend, father, mentor, and professional he was.
“In 2009, I went on my first deployment to Iraq and I got to fly with Richie a number of times,” said SSGT Brian. “As well as being a great friend I got to see first-hand that Richie was also an excellent operator.”
Richie was a kind, loving soul who accepted everyone for being exactly who they were and he will be greatly missed by all who’s lives he touched, may his memory live on in our hearts forever and ever!!!
SSGT Dickson joined the Air Force in June 2006. He was an experienced crew member, logging 891 combat hours aboard the MC-12W and 1,458 total hours aboard numerous aircraft. His decorations include seven Air Medals and an Air Force Achievement Medal. His wife was presented a Bronze Star during the memorial service for his most recent actions in Afghanistan.
“There are five simple words that fill me with both honor and sorrow and those words are, ‘in service to his country,'” said MAJ GEN Robert Otto, the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency commander. “They are chilling words because they signal that someone has paid the ultimate price to this great nation. It is never taken lightly, but each member who takes an oath and puts on a uniform does so knowing that they may be called to give their life for their country.”
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