Earnest "Blaine" Richard , VRHS Class of 1948
PFC ERNEST BLAINE RICHARD died May 25, 1951. "Blaine" as he was known, is an alumnus of the class of 1948. He resided on Broadway in Rensselaer with his grandparents, Mr & Mrs. William Bailey. After graduation, he entered the Army and served 14 mos.on Adak Island in the Aleutians. He transferred to the Army Reserves and spent two weeks each summer at Pine Camp, plus a weekly reserve meeting. Blaine was called to active duty in March 1951. In Korea, he was with the 3rd Platoon Co L 23rd D Infantry Regiment, 2nd Inf. Division as a B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) man. Three months later, he was killed in an ambush as he was riding on the outside of a tank in the vicinity of Chaun-nu, So. Korea on May 25, 1951. His military awards include the Purple Heart, Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and the United Nations Service Medal. Blaine leaves a nephew, William Blaine Richard, who will receive his plaque this evening. From the Korean War Educator: Ernest Blaine Richard resided on Broadway in Rensselaer with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Bailey. He attended School 3 and graduated from Van Rensselaer High School. His parents were Ernest Joseph Richard and Hazel Bailey Richard. After entering the Army on August 12, 1948 he served 14 months on Adak Island in the Aleutians. In Korea he was with 3d Squad, 3d Platoon, Company L, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division as a BAR man. He was killed in a tank ambush as he was riding on the outside of a tank in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, South Korea on May 25, 1951. His military awards included the Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Korean Service, Combat Infantryman Badge and United Nations Service Medals. Pfc. Richard is buried in Memory's Garden, Albany, N.Y.