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SFC Richard Lopez- Arroyo Grande High, CA

9/10/2009

6 Comments

 
Please Feel Free To Leave A Comment Or A Memory You Had With Richard~
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FAREWELL TO A SOLDIER

Mary Ventura of Paso Robles faced a somber crowd at St. Rose Catholic Church on Thursday as she read a letter to her brother, Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lopez, who died in a bar fight Jan. 5 in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
"As you told me, we are two of the same," she read aloud. "You will always be a part of me."
Lopez, 37, was born in San Luis Obispo. He grew up in Arroyo Grande and attended Arroyo Grande High School.
He joined the U. S ARMY...
Published on 2009-01-16, Page B1, Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)

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RICHARD LOPEZ U.S. ARMY

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lopez, 37, passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, in Denver, Colo.
Richard was born in San Luis Obispo in November 1971 and grew up in Arroyo Grande. He attended Arroyo Grande schools including Arroyo Grande High School.
SFC Lopez was a Communications Sergeant assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He joined the U. S. Army as an Infantryman in 1994. He served as a scout/sniper.
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Sgt 1st Class Lopez was assigned to the Operational Detachment-Alpha 784, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. Richard attended Arroyo Grande High School in Arroyo Grande, California. In 1993, he decided to join the Army as an infantryman and served at duty stations both stateside and overseas. He served as a scout-sniper until he was selected to become an Army Recruiter in 2000 then he began his quest to become a Special Forces Soldier in 2004 by attending the Special Forces Communications Sergeant Course. This highly decorated soldier had been awarded the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart for when he was shot in the abdomen in Afghanistan, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze knots, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with "3" numeral, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Royal Netherlands Army Freefall Badge and the Gold Recruiter Badge. On January 2, while on vacation with his son and two military friends, Richard and his two friends were at a bar in Steamboat Springs. His family was told that Richard had put on the Jimmy Buffett song, "Margaritaville" and a disagreement erupted between the soldiers and two other individuals over the song. A fight ensued after the men left the bar and by the time officers arrived on the scene, Richard was on the ground and his two friends were injured. On January 5, in a hospital in Denver, Richard died of severe head and brain trauma. 


 
6 Comments
Jeff Thompson
6/16/2010 06:45:23 am

Rest in peace brother.

Reply
Kat De Leon
8/5/2010 06:29:47 pm

I was so sad to hear about Richard's death. We use to date back in High School. I affectionately called him "Dog"...we had some really fun times together but now that he is gone the thing that sticks in my mind the most is the last time I saw him. We had broken up and were working on getting back together. We went down to the beach to talk things over...long story short, he told me he wanted to join the Army. I told him that was "stupid~why would you want to do that? What if something happened to you?"...needless to say those words ended our relationship forever~ because joining the Army and serving his Country was a life long dream (I never knew how much that meant to him until after he was gone)...I'm sorry Dog...you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Reply
Nick Lopez
4/28/2011 11:32:59 am

He was the greatest dad in the world. We were best friends. Dad I love you and I know ill see you soon.

Reply
Scott
9/20/2018 09:03:48 pm

Nick,
I served with your father in Iraq. I was his Platoon Leader. He was an outstanding man and leader. So sorry for your loss.

Reply
Lewis Family
12/9/2011 11:51:05 pm

To Nick and the rest of Rich's family- though it has been almost 3 years since your dads death, we still think about him- if you visit some of the special ops blogs, his brothers in arms do too. I pray you have found some peace in life after this tragedy. I only met your dad once or twice--he went through the course with my husband, they were friends, but more importantly comrades. They went their separate ways, your dad stayed at Bragg and we left to Colorado Springs. My husband saw him a few times while on TDY at Bragg and it was right after his injury in OEF. Regardless of what some low life people on blogs have said he was an incredibly strong man and this was such a tragic and unfortunate event. Even for us, grown almost 40 year olds, the irony is almost too much to understand- how a soldier can go to war, get shot and almost die, pull through it only to lose their life on what was supposed to be an enjoyable vacation. It's heartbreaking.
I wish you well, we think of your dad often, and I know you will work hard and do your best to make him proud with your decisions in life and in adulthood.

Reply
Gavin Vorderstrasse
7/7/2019 10:34:18 am

Richard was there for me through preparation of Ranger School. He was one of the most well rounded people I’ve ever known. We served together in 1/505 Scouts. You will never be forgotten!

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