Marine Lance Cpl. William T. Richards

Remember Our Heroes


Marine Lance Cpl. William T. Richards, 20, of Trenton, Ga.

LCpl Richards was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died June 26, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Music, family were big parts of his life
The Associated Press

William Richards — who preferred his middle name, Taylor — was a long-haired kid who could pluck a mean banjo in high school.

“His music was just a big part of his life,” said Linda Wilson, who taught Richards in 10th grade. She said he had shoulder-length hair as a teen but shaved it during his senior year as he prepared to join the Marines.

Richards, 20, of Trenton, Ga., died June 26 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and graduated from Dade County High School in 2008.

The Marine’s family said in a statement that Richards was a dedicated father to his 9-month-old daughter, Kayden Leigh. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Emily.

Chuck Carver, who ran a youth ministry that Richards was a part of in high school, said the teen had a clearer vision than most of what he wanted from life. He often asked Carver for advice about life and marriage, and knew the dangers of joining the Marines.

“I know Mr. Carver. That’s what I’m destined to be,” Carver recalled the teen telling him.

Richards also is survived by his mother and father.

remembering 20-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. William Taylor Richards as a “special” young man who had a passion for his country and music.
Cpl. Richards, a 2008 graduate of Dade County High School, died Saturday in the Helmand province of Afghanistan while supporting combat operations, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., according to the DOD news release.

Linda Wilson, who taught Cpl. Richards in 10th grade, said her former student as a “special kid” and a great banjo player.

“His music was just a big part of his life,” said Ms. Wilson, who noted that Cpl. Richards talked about joining the military early in high school.

When she taught him, he had shoulder-length hair but shaved it during his senior year in preparation for enlisting in the armed services.

His death, she said, “is a huge loss.”

Bill Lockhart, acting commander of the local American Legion chapter, said Cpl. Richards was a mature teenager who was involved in last year’s Veterans Day parade.

“We are all-volunteer so that means he volunteered to serve his country. He gave it his all,” Mr. Lockhart said.

Marine Lance Cpl. William T. Richards was killed in action on 6/26/10.