RESOLUTION IN MEMORY OF
NORMAN ROBERT RICHARDS
OUR SHIPMATE ON THE U.S.S. LOWNDES APA 154
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
DURING THE WORLD WAR II BATTLE OF IWO JIMA
IN FEBRUARY, 1945
WHEREAS, Norman Robert Richards is honored
on this sixth day of October, 1995 by the U.S.S.
Lowndes APA 154 Reunion with the dedication of a special plaque in his memory that will
be permanently displayed in the Admiral Nimitz Museum at Fredricksburg, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Norman Richards was a talented
young man with strong moral and spiritual qualities who
demonstrated his faith in God and love for his country, his family and all people, and he
was well respected by all his shipmates who had the privilege of knowing and working
with him; and
WHEREAS, as Hospital Corpsman First Class, he conducted his responsibilities with great ability and
professionalism in the U.S.S. Lowndes Medical Section and as a member of the Hospital
Corps unit of the Ship's Beach Battalion; and
WHEREAS, during the Battle of Iwo Jima,
he demonstrated outstanding bravery and performance in
administering first aid and medical treatment and in carrying casualties from the beach to
landing boats for transport to the U.S.S. Lowndes and other ships for surgery and
treatment of wounds; and
WHEREAS, Norman Richards made the supreme sacrifice in service to his country when he was killed
by enemy mortar fire while performing his responsibilities during the bloody
Iwo Jima
Battle; and
WHEREAS, some of us were close friends
of Norman Richards while others of us in our large ship's
crew did not have the opportunity to personally work with him, but for the past 50 years,
he has been a role model and has had a positive influence on the lives of all of us in the
U.S.S. Lowndes Reunion;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED by the attendees
at the 1995 U.S.S. Lowndes APA 154 Reunion,
whose signatures are inscribed on the other side of this resolution, that our
highest
commendation be conferred in memory of our Shipmate Norman Robert Richards for
the
supreme sacrifice he gave in service to his country during the Battle of Iwo
Jima;
BE IT FURTHER THEREFORE RESOLVED that our
deepest gratitude be expressed this sixth day of
October, 1995, to all the living family members of Norman Richards for the inspiration
he
has given and for the beneficial influence he has provided during the past 50
years to all of
us who had the privilege to be his Shipmates on the U.S.S. Lowndes APA
154.