[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM LEE RICH

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor William Lee 
Rich, a career Navy man. Bill, on behalf of all Montanans and all 
Americans, I stand to say ``thank you'' for your service to this 
Nation.
  It is my honor to share the story of Bill Rich's service in the U.S. 
Navy, because no story of heroism should ever fall through the cracks.
  Bill was born in Jamestown, NY in 1947. After moving around the 
country with his family, he graduated from Spring Valley High School in 
New York and enlisted with the U.S. Navy in Poughkeepsie in 1966.
  Bill trained with the Seabees in Davisville, RI before transferring 
to Mobile Construction Battalion 21 at Seabee Headquarters in Gulfport, 
MS. From there he was deployed to Phu Bai with M-C-B 21, just south of 
Hue City in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Bill's unit was responsible for 
transporting South Vietnamese refugees out of Hue.
  In February 1968, his unit saw heavy action during the Tet Counter 
Offensive. They were responsible for transporting a group of South 
Vietnamese out of Hue to the refuge center at Phu Bai. It was for their 
time in Hue that the M-C-B 21 received the Presidential Unit Citation. 
Bill also earned his Combat Action Ribbon.
  Bill's deployment ended after 9 months, and his unit returned to 
Gulfport, MS before going back to Vietnam, this time to Camp Eagle in 
the Gia Lai Province. During his 8 months at Camp Eagle, Bill worked on 
various construction and electrical projects, both around the camp and 
in Hue. He also worked with the American-Vietnamese Civic Action 
Program to help construct engineering projects in the region.
  After his two tours in Vietnam, Bill transferred to Naval Reserve 
Construction Battalion 19 for 4 years before returning to active duty.
  Back with the Seabees, Bill was assigned to Italy and New Zealand 
before spending a year in Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze. 
He was then assigned to Harold E. Holt station in Australia where he 
married his wife, Debby, a Helena native.
  From Australia, Bill went to Winter Harbor, ME and then to M-C-B 74 
in Gulfport. He deployed from Gulfport to Japan and Puerto Rico. From 
battalion he went to Manama, Bahrain in the Persian Gulf as a contract 
inspector.
  From Bahrain, Bill went to the Naval Headquarters in London, England 
for 4 years where his daughter Mariah was born.
  Bill's last assignment was part of a five-man active duty staff for 
Reserve Construction Battalion 13 at Camp Smith, Peekskill, NY. Before 
he retired, Bill received both the New York State Conspicuous Service 
Cross and the Long and Faithful Service Medal.
  Upon his retirement, he received both the Navy and Army Achievement 
Medals. Bill retired with the rank of E-6 Construction Electrician 
First Class.
  Bill transferred to Fleet Reserve and retired after a 30-year naval 
career.
  Petty Officer Bill Rich moved to Helena to start his new life with 
his wife and daughter. He currently works for the State of Montana 
Department of Military Affairs here at Fort Harrison as an electrician.
  After his service, Bill never received all of the medals he earned 
from the Navy.
  Earlier this month, in the presence of his friends and family, it was 
my honor to finally present to Bill his Vietnam Campaign Medal with 
1960 Device, Navy Expert Rifle Medal with Three Bronze Stars, Navy 
Expert Pistol Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and his Navy & Marine 
Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with One Silver and Four Bronze Stars.
  It was also my honor to present the Antarctica Service Medal with 
Bronze Clasp, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Silver and Two Bronze 
Stars, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with Four Bronze Stars, the Naval 
Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service 
Medal with One Bronze Star.
  Earlier this month I also presented to Bill: the Combat Action 
Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with 
one Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation with One Bronze 
Star.
  These decorations are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of 
true heroism. Sacrifice. And dedication to service.
  These medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

                          ____________________