From left, Kosciusko County Veteran Affairs Officer Darryl McDowell, Kosciusko Commissioner President Bob Conley, Veteran of the Month Richmond Slone, Commissioner Vice President Cary Groninger and Commissioner Brad Jackson. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Richmond Slone of Etna Green was honored as Veteran of the Month by Kosciusko County Commissioners at the Nov. 9 commissioners’ meeting.

Slone was born in Blue River, Ky., and was one of 10 children. His family moved to Claypool in 1959. He attended school in both Claypool and Warsaw, graduating from Warsaw High School in 1967. 

Richmond Slone military photo, provided by family

Slone was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969. He attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., and advanced individual training (AIT) at Fort Polk, La., before his deployment to Vietnam with the 199^th Infantry Brigade. 

He later served with the 25^th Infantry Division. 

In June 1970, his company was assigned to the Cambodia Campaign. Slone was awarded the Purple Heart while in action.

“I was just 5 years old when my brother was in Vietnam,” said Slone’s sister, Christina Morehouse. “I remember packing care packages with Mom for him. He served a rough time in Vietnam. He was in the thick of it most of the time, spending days in rain-soaked jungles. He saw a lot of horrendous things over there, a lot he still doesn’t talk about.”

Slone served two years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in August 1971 with the rank of Specialist (E4). 

During his service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Expert Rifleman Badge. 

After proudly serving his country, Slone returned to Warsaw where he was employed at Kimble Glass for 47 years, working in various positions. He retired from Kimble Glass as a supervisor and consultant in 2017. 

He married his wife, Avis, in 1983. They have two children, Travis and Allison, and two grandchildren, Preston and Paxton. 

Slone thanked the county commissioners and Kosciusko County Veteran Affairs Officer Darryl McDowell for the recognition.

He also asked for recognition for 94 of his comrades in the 199th Infantry Brigade  who died while serving in Vietnam.

“It was an honor to serve my country,” Slone said. “And I feel truly humbled to have been chosen to be here today to accept this acknowledgement.”

A photo of Richmond Slone during his time in the military. Photo provided by the Slone family

From left, Kosciusko County Veteran Affairs Officer Darryl McDowell and Veteran of the Month Richmond Slone. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels