8 minute read
BRIAN RICHTER
Original publish date:
May-June 2015
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Where is he now?
Sergeant First Class Brian Richter’s story was originally published in the May-June 2015 issue of The Good Life.
In 2019, Richter married his wife, Tina. They first met one another in Junior High and had reconnected in 2016 after losing touch around 1993. Tina’s three kids and Richter’s two sons remain in the Fargo area finishing high school, attending college, or working.
Currently, Richter is serving as the Company First Sergeant (1SG) for C Co 834th on a deployment to Iraq supporting the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade. Upon his return, he’ll continue working full time for the MN Army National Guard as the Readiness NCO for C Company 834th Aviation Support Battalion.
BRIAN RICHTER A LOCAL MILITARY HERO SHARES ABOUT HIS DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY
WRITTEN BY: WANDA PERKINS PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Most of us have the luxury of awakening refreshed after a peaceful sleep in a comfortable bed. We sip our favorite cup of morning brew, listen to the morning’s news and enjoy a warm shower before beginning the day. Amidst the usual morning traffic frustrations and lengthy lists of errands, overloaded schedules and appointments, we sometimes take for granted the daily freedoms we enjoy and the great sacrifices our dedicated military heroes make each day.
Born in Fargo, SSG Brian Richter grew up in Hunter, N.D. and attended Dakota High School. Just two days after graduation, he left for Basic Training. “I decided early in my junior year of high school that I wanted to go into the Army,” SSG Richter recalled. “My first thought was to become a police officer and this would give me experience. I first
served in a Combat Support Unit instead of a Garrison Unit that normally performs regular police work on post.”
The training and schooling SSG Richter has received is extensive beginning with Military Police School in 1989. In 1992, he was no longer on active Army duty. He attended Combat Engineer School in April 1993 and also served in the North Dakota Army National Guard for one year and then in the Minnesota National Guard in 1996. Following completion of the National Guard Small Arms Instructor Range Operations Course in May 2000, he attended Infantry Training in November 2002. He clarified he went through Sniper School twice. The first time was in March 2010, when he sustained an injury to his knee.
“ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF SNIPER TRAINING IS CARRYING A 75-POUND BACKPACK, ALONG WITH YOUR WEAPON, WHILE RUNNING OVER UNEVEN GROUND ON THE RANGE,” – RICHTER
“Unfortunately, I blew out my left knee and had to wait until September 2011 to complete the course.”
Additionally, SSG Richter began training for deployment to Iraq in Louisiana, where he learned how to drive the Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) in September 2004. The day after Thanksgiving, he was deployed to Iraq. “My mission with the 778th Transportation Company was transporting vehicles or equipment into
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: 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
it is a sacrifice to be away from his family one that requires significant coordinating he knows his sons’ needs will be taken care of.
“There are many challenges to face during deployment. These differ for each person,” SSG Richter stated. “When you have kids at home, like when I went to Iraq, you always try to get a little time to run over to the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tent. Everyone waits in line for computer time to video chat with family. I tried not to think too much about what was going on back at home so I could focus on my responsibilities there.”
HIS SONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE, AND HE ENJOYS SPENDING AS MUCH FAMILY TIME WITH THEM AS HE CAN.
SSG Richter also described his personal reflection of what he considers a hero. Without wavering, he named Chris Kyle, the trained Navy SEAL who wrote the best-selling novel American Sniper. The book was later released on film in December 2013. Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range in Texas.
Since 2002, SSG Richter has worked with the Army National Guard in Operations. His main responsibilities include reviewing training, scheduling equipment and resources, reviewing travel or pay orders and working with IT issues for his battalion for both full time staff and the regular National Guard side as well.
In December 2014, he completed Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager School (ESM) and is currently one of three trained ESMs in the Minnesota National Guard. This is specialized training that de-conflicts any interference and works closely with electronic communication and electronic warfare.
Even when our busy lives are packed with trivial daily annoyances, these inconveniences pale in comparison to the dedication and sacrifices our military personnel provide every day. For these true heroes that risk their lives to protect and defend us all, we owe a great debt of heartfelt appreciation and respect.
When asked what the good life means to him, local hero SSG Richter smiled and thoughtfully answered, “My idea of the good life would be cruising down a curvy road on my motorcycle while listening to Johnny Lang.” •
