[cincymarsdad]

Marines, Sailors and Soldiers,

We stand together this afternoon to honor the memory of a fallen comrade, Corporal Bryan Richardson, United States Marine Corps.

Corporal Richardson died on the night of March 25th while participating in a security patrol [in the Al-Anbar Province of Iraq]. The up-armored humvee [High Mobile Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)], in which Corporal Richardson was riding hit a double stacked mine killing him and injuring three other Marines.

Corporal Richardson was known as a true team player. He was a man confident of his abilities; a man who lead by example; and a man who put the needs of others before his own. In my conversations with the men who knew Corporal Richardson the best, you, the Marines of Kilo Company, Third Battalion, 25th Marines, I heard words like: loyal, dependable, dedicated, courageous, and most of all…selfless.

In The Bible it is written, Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friend. [Paraphrased from 1John3: 16] Many of you had the privilege of calling Corporal Bryan Richardson, friend. Cherish that privilege.

In this day and age, Corporal Richardson was a rare person. He was a man who demonstrated by his actions that he understood as John Stuart Mills stated:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks nothing is worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of men better than himself.

Corporal Bryan Richardson was such a man.

Marines, Sailors and Soldiers: Let us remember that the truest way to honor a fallen warrior is to accomplish the mission. Continue to protect the innocent and eliminate the terrorists. By doing this, you will truly honor the memory of Corporal Bryan Richardson.

You are in God’s hands now, Corporal Richardson. Farewell and Semper Fidelis, Marine.

Lieutenant Colonel Lionel B. Urquhart
Commanding Officer
3d Battalion, 25th Marines