11/14/1942 - 2/16/1967

Army PFC Gary Richards was born in New Haven on November 14, 1942. His family, which included an older brother, Edwin Richards, Jr., moved to Cheshire in 1957 and Gary graduated in the Cheshire High School Class of 1961. After graduation, he was employed at a gas station until, like so many other young men of the time, he was drafted into the Army.

PFC Richards entered the Army on April 18, 1966, and became a rifleman. On January 1, 1967, he was deployed to Vietnam. There he was attached to the 3rd Battalion of the 39th Infantry. On February 16, 1967, he was returning from an ambush patrol in Long An Province, South Vietnam when he was hit by small arms fire.

The Richards family were members of Cheshire Lutheran Church. In memory of Pfc. Richards, the bell that had hung at the old St. Bridget’s Church (now Cheshire Pizza and Ale) was presented to the Lutheran Church by Gerald Gregoire, who had purchased the church property after the new St. Bridget’s Church was built in 1958. The bell hangs in a redwood structure outside the Church.

PFC Richards is buried at Beaverdale Memorial Park in New Haven.

(Photo from FindaGrave.com)

The 1967 Memorial Day Parade and Observances paid special tribute to PFC Gary C. Richards and Lcpl John A. Gravil, whose names are now inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

PFC Richards’ name is located on Panel 15E - Line 51 of the Wall.

When searching for PFC Richards’ name on the Wall, it is not located under “Cheshire,” but under “New Haven.” Apparently, he was living in New Haven at the time he entered the Service. However, since he graduated from Cheshire High School , Cheshire continues to honor him, his service, and his sacrifice.