Richard was born in Maine and grew up in Southern California. Graduating Army flight school as a Warrant Officer helicopter pilot he was sent immediately to Vietnam. He flew his first tour in a combat assault company inserting and extracting infantry and their wounded. On his second tour he became Aircraft Commander on Four Star General Abrams’ helicopter. Abrams was the MACV Commander all Forces Vietnam replacing General Westmoreland.
Returning to California he got a degree in business and was hired to write for an advertising agency. Learning to write, produce and direct commercials and corporate films in advertising he created Storyteller Films to do documentary films.
His first film, “Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam the Personal Experience” was commissioned by The History Channel. He wrote , produced and directed, “A Solemn Promise, America’s Missing in Action” about America’s over 81,000 MIAs. Both films can be screened on TUBItv, Amazon YouTube and several others.
He authored his first book, “My War with Vietnam, A Pilot’s Healing Journey Home from War.” The book came out on McFarland Press in January 2025 and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere. More information on him and his works available at storytellerfilms.tv
He lives in the mountains above Los Angeles.