DAYTON, OR, USA
USMC
SGT, USMC MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, PICKLE MEADOWS, CA
GARDNERVILLE, NV 09/05/2008
Marine Sergeant Micah S. Richmond, age 27, was born January 24, 1981 in Eugene, Oregon. Micah was killed in an automobile accident, on Friday, September 5, 2008, in Gardnerville, NV. Micah had been an instructor at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, located in Bridgeport, CA., for the last three years. This center conducts formal schools for individuals and battalion training in summer and winter mountainoperations. Micah lived in Wellington, NV with his wife of almost one year, Courtney Martin-Richmond. Micah grew up the fourth child in the close-knit Richmond family of five children.
In November 2001, Sgt. Richmond chose to pursue his dream of joining the US Marine Corps. It was the challenge of the core values of the Marine Corps—Honor, Courage and Commitment– that drew him to volunteer, following his grandfather into the Marines. Throughout his life, the tougher the challenge, the more interest he had it. He entered Basic Training at the USMC Recruit Depot, in San Diego, CA and graduated on March 15, 2002.
After Basic Training, he was stationed in Virginia Beach, VA, with the Marine Corps Fleet Anti Terrorist Security Team (FAST). While in FAST, he was deployed to Bahrain, Iraq and Djibouti (Africa). In November 2004, he reported to Marine Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty with 3 Battalion, 3 Marines. While in Hawaii, he was in a motorcycle accident that left him seriously injured and prevented him from leaving with his comrades to Afghanistan. He was in recovery for about one year. In November 2005, he reenlisted in the Marines for another four years and was sent to the USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, Bridgeport, California, where he became a Mountain Warfare Instructor. At Pickle Meadows, Micah went through Formal Instructor School. Among other things, he was a certified Wilderness First Responder, a certified Military Ski Instructor, Mule Packer, Assault Climber, AIARE Level Two Avalanche Instructor, Summer and Winter Mountain Leader, and Tactical Rope Suspension Technician (TRST), Area Level One Alpine, Rock Climber and Rescue. Sgt. Richmond has traveled to Alaska, Canada and most recently, to the Swiss Alps for Ex ICE FLIP 08 with the British Royal Marines Mountain Leader Branch.
Micah met his beautiful wife; Courtney, in McMinnville, OR. They were married on September 15, 2007, in Carson City, NV and the next summer on August 9, 2008, they had a large wedding ceremony in McMinnville, OR. They honeymooned in Fiji and just 18 days later, Micah passed.
Micah gave his heart to Jesus Christ when he was a young child, then at age 11, he reconfirmed his commitment to the Lord and was baptized. An incredible athlete, Sgt. Richmond enjoyed rock climbing, mountain climbing, snowboarding, skiing, motorcycles, guns, hunting and movies. Even before Micah was in the Marines, he was an avid skier and snowboarder. He was quiet– a “man of few words”, but when he did speak, he spoke from his heart. He usually had an arm around someone nearby and anyone who knew him knew him as a most humble and affectionate man. He never spoke of himself or of his accomplishments. He loved his family, was a loyal and dedicated friend and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
The following words were spoken by USMC Captain Kinser, on the occasion of Micah’s memorial service, 13 September 2008: “Courage: The mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Whether he was lead climbing a 1000-foot vertical rock wall on the weekend or leading a group of inexperienced Marines through complex and dangerous terrain at night, Sgt Richmond lived this tenet both on and off duty. He often found himself in places where there was no turning back and yet each time that I personally observed, he pushed through with tenacity and focus seldom found in most men. His ability to courageously overcome life threatening difficulty set him apart from his peers and fully garnered their utmost respect.”
His first memorial service took place in Micah’s hometown, at Bethel Baptist Church, 325 NW Baker Creek Road McMinnville, OR, on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Graveside service took place at Hopewell Cemetery, 21600 SE Church Road, Dayton, OR, with full military honors by the United States Marine Corps and the Portland, OR Police Dept. The Marines also held a beautiful memorial service on Thursday, September 18 at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, Bridgeport, CA.