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Cmsgt RICHARD L. ETCHBERGBR

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Cmsgt RICHARD L. ETCHBERGBR CMSgt RICHARD L. ETCHBERGBR TOP SECRET ENLISTET) AIR FORCE CROSS RECIPIENT CMSgt Richard L. Etchberger circa 1957. Photo courtesy of the Etchberger family. Personal courage is often a difficult value to quantify. As a personal trait of warriors, it is her- alded and honored by nations that value their Armed Forces'men and women who place them- selves in harms way and are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (Deceased) Richard L. Etchberger, had personal courage. Upon reflection, Chief Etchberger's life prior to his actions in Laos in 1968 can be summed up in the words of the Texas hero and patriot, Sam Houston, who is quoted as saying, "You don't know me now, but you shall hear of me." To understand and appreciate the quiet pro- fessionalism, leadership and eventual uncommon valor of this seemingly ordinary Air Force non- commissioned officer (NCO) requires a look at the events of Etchberger's life - from a typical small town American childhood to a desolate mountaintop in Laos. This monograph is written to help ensure that by Sean M. Miskimins Chief Etchberger's heroic actions are not only and remembered, but also to inspire others to emulate William I. Chivalette his professionalism in service, dedication to nation, and courage in the face of adversity. Born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, on March Airmen Memorial Museum 15,1933, Richard (Dick) Loy Etchberger was the younger of two brothers. At an early age, Dick was assigned to Airmen Electronic Fundamentals learned many of the core values that would School at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. Dick gradu- remain with him throughout his life. His father, ated from the course 5 months later and then Donald, worked at a Hamburg hosiery mill mak- attended the 7-month long Radar Maintenance ing silk stockings until the Japanese bombing of School, also at Keesler AFB. By October 25, Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, thrust 1953, Dick had completed several electronics America into World War II. Life quickly changed courses and was qualified as a Radar Operator. for the Etchbergers when the hosiery mill closed By May 1954, the young airman had also quali- because the silk was needed to make parachutes fied as an Auto Track Radar Specialist. Dick was instead of stockings. With their father out of learning everything he could about electronics work, Dick and his older brother, Bob, pitched in and quickly becoming a master in the field. As to provide for the family by doing whatever odd his son Cory recalls, "Dad was an electronics jobs they could find in the Hamburg area. Due to whiz, he used to build stereos and tape recorders the tough times, the Etchbergers moved to nearby at home." Minersville, Pennsylvania, where Donald found During this time Dick found out that he was work as a stockman in a small store. eligible to apply for an experimental aviation Despite the hardships, Dick and Bob contin- cadet training program for students who had less ued with their education and participation in ath- than two years of college. "Dick wanted to be a letics. Dick excelled in academics. "Dick had a pilot," remembered Bob, "but he had received a photographic memory," recalled Bob. "When he head injury and was in a brief coma after playing would go upstairs to study, he would be done in high school basketball. That caused him some ten minutes. Then he was back downstairs doing problems (headaches and equilibrium) during whatever he wanted. That used to infuriate me pilot training. He washed out of the pilot training because I couldn't learn my lessons that quickly." program." Dick's dream of flying ended after Dick excelled not only in academics but also in spending 21 weeks as an aviation cadet. sports. Bob said, "He [Dick] played a lot of bas- On October l,1954, Etchberger was promot- ketball, and ended up being a star on the high ed to AlC and assigned as an Auto Tracking school team." Radar Technician in the Salt Lake City When World War II ended in September 1945, the Etchberger family returned to Hamburg. In early 1946, Bob enlisted in the Navy and, in the fall, Dick began high school. While attending Hamburg High School, Dick began to display his leadership potential. By the time he graduated in 1951, he had been a member of the speech club and the literary society, treas- urer ofthe library club and senior class president. Along with all the academic, athletic and extra- curricular activities, Dick continued helping the family by working with his dad who was employed at a Hamburg department store. On August 31, 195I, a few weeks after high school graduation, Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) and departed for Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, Texas. Because Dick's entry scores indicated he had an Aviation Cadet Etchberger circa May-Oct L953. extremely high aptitude for electronics, A3C Photo courtesy of the Etchberger family. Etchberger, upon graduation from basic training, Etchbergers. Not only were Dick's career respon- sibilities expanding, his family was also growing. Dick and Katherine welcomed their second son, Cory. Even with the ever increasing job responsi- bilities, Dick made sure he found time for his family. Cory says as he got older, he remembers his dad finding time for various activities such as swimming and fishing with his three sons. As the 1960s began, Etchberger received orders to report to the llth RBS Squadron located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The move went well, and Dick would be promoted to master sergeant by the end of the year. With the new rank came a new job, Radar Maintenance Chief. As always, Dick excelled. Subordinates, peers and supervisors held him in high esteem and considered him the consummate professional. As fate would have it, his Airman Etchberger circa 1952. Note the Commander, Captain Reeves, made a prophetic 505 uniform. Photo courtesy of the Etchberger family. statement when he wrote, "MSgt Etchberger is the kind of NCO I would desire in my unit in combat." Detachment of the l1th Radar Bomb Scoring The year 1963 brought happiness with Dick's (RBS) Squadron located at Hill AFB in Ogden, promotion to SMSgt; however, 1964 brought Utah. During this assignment, Dick went to pain and soffow. Dick and Katherine suffered a McClellan AFB, California, where he completed major personal tragedy with the loss of a daugh- more electronics courses. Upon returning to Utah ter during childbirth. Dick, Katherine and their on November 15, 1955, Dick re-enlisted for six family dealt with their tragic loss and moved for- years with the intention of making the Air Force ward. a careeL By February of 1956, he had been pro- In August 1965 the Etchberger family trans- moted to SSgt. ferred to Clark Air Base, the Philippines. Again, The young SSgt did not realize it, but his life Dick excelled, and his dedication to duty did not was about to have another significant change. go unrecognized. By December 1966 he was the During his tour in Utah, Dick met his wife to be, NCOIC of Communications and Electronics Katherine Vaccaria, at a Salt Lake City restaurant Maintenance with the 5th Tactical Control where she worked. In the fall of 1956, Dick and Maintenance Squadron. Katherine married in Elko. Nevada. Now. Dick had In addition to normal responsibilities during a wife and an 8-year old stepson, Steve Wilson. his tour of duty at Clark Air Base, Dick was also Promotion to TSgt came on June 1, 1957, and the Communications-Electronics NCOIC of a along with the promotion came a permanent large and very important Radar Control and change of station move. Dick, Katherine and Reporting Post deployed and installed on Hon Steve packed up and shipped out to Marrakesh, Tre Island, Republic of Vietnam. He supervised Morocco. While at Sidi Slimane Air Base, Dick the installation and checkout of two complex and Katherine's first son, Richard C. Etchberger, radar sets and the UHF, VHF, and HF communi- was born. Dick continued to excel in his work cations equipment; the construction of both the and in 1958 assumed increased responsibilities as Radar and Communications buildings; and the a shift chief with the l2th Radar Bomb Scorins construction of a Maintenance Control Center (RBS) Squadron. facility. This monumental tasking turned into The year 1959 started out with a bang for the another Etchberger success story. On April 1, 1967, Etchberger was promoted to Chief Master spread of communism by going to southeast Asia, Sergeant. he didn't want his three boys growing up in a As in the past, promotion brought reassign- world run by communists." ment, this time to Chanute AFB, Illinois. At The team Dick was assigned to was to be sta- Chanute, Etchberger was the NCOIC of the tioned at a place known as "Lima Site 85." "Lima Electronics Branch. However, this assignment Site" was the code name; "LS" was the acronym, would be extremely short-lived. Due to his out- and "85" was one of many small dirt or grass standing reputation as a leader, and recognition as landing sites in Laos used by the ClA-controlled the leading authority in his speciality, he was Air America Airlines. LS 85 was situated on top about to be offered a very unusual and important of the Phou Pha Thi mountain at an elevation of assignment. This assignment was to a "Top 4,500 feet and was only one of the many Lima Secret" United States Air Force/Central Sites that would be involved in "Proiect Heavy Intelligence Agency (CIA) project being devel- Green." The site was located just 12 miles south oped and code-named "Project Heavy Green." of the North Vietnam border and, when estab- "Project Heavy Green" was formulated lished, would provide the U.S.
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