The Good Life – July-August 2020

LOCAL HERO | BRIAN RICHTER
and out of Iraq,” he recalled. “I spent about half of my time
in the HET and half in a HMMWV gun truck doing security
for our convoys.”
He sensed the imminent danger of driving a slow-moving
vehicle across dusty roads where roadside bombs were
always a possible threat. While serving in Iraq, he received
an urgent message from The Red Cross notifying him of
a family medical emergency back home. The next day he
boarded a civilian flight back to the states after serving eight
months.
In 2005, SSG Richter was working as the rear detachment
Readiness and Training (NCO) in Moorhead, MN and had
the opportunity to speak with wives of military personnel.
He answered difficult questions about why their spouses
chose not to return home.
“ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS AND
DIFFICULTIES THE MILITARY FACE IS THAT
SOMETIMES OUR FAMILIES BACK HOME THINK
WE DON’T CARE, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.
THERE IS A COMRADERY IN THE MILITARY
WHERE EACH BRANCH STEPS UP BESIDE YOU.
THERE’S ALSO AN UNQUESTIONABLE SAFETY
RESPONSIBILITY AND LOYALTY TOWARDS
YOUR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU
SERVE WITH.”
Other than his Iraq deployment with the Minnesota
National Guard, he was stationed at Fort Davis Panama
following Basic Training and Military Police training. Then
in October 1989, he was assigned to the 549th Military
20 / THE GOOD LIFE
Police Company (MP) and later in December participated
in Operation Just Cause.
“For this mission, my duties were spread over several
different areas which included securing buildings or roads,
clearing buildings and doing raids in areas of town while
looking for weapons and drugs,” SSG Richter noted. “While
Panama was under martial law, we operated as the police
force breaking up civil disturbances and riots in the jail in
Colon until a new police force was established.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of military service for
SSG Richter is the comradery. He confessed he wasn’t a
good student in high school and didn’t have much discipline,
despite all the efforts attempted by his parents. His advice
to young men and women considering a possible military
career is dependent upon on what career choice is desired
and what an individual wants to accomplish. He added, “A
military career will be hard, but it will be rewarding.”
SSG Richter diligently served our community during two
floods. He said that one of the aspects that makes our
community strong is the fact that everyone joins together
when the need is greatest. “It is a sign of strength when
families and friends come together to offer help. This is
certainly not characteristic of all communities, where some
simply wait for help to arrive,” he explained.
In addition to his dedicated service to his community and
country, SSG Richter has yet another challenging role as a
single parent to two sons, Austin, age 16, and Cody, age 12.
“I am fortunate to have a command that understands my
personal situation and works with me to make sure that I
have the time to take my children to their appointments and
to attend their school functions,” he noted. Although he said