Richard James Womack – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Died February 13, 1999, at the age of 70, after a long battle with lung cancer. The son of John D. and Marie Womack was born on December 30, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Colonel Womack served 34 years in the US Army, from 1950 to 1984. He had a long, distinguished career, entering as a Private in 1950 and, after going through Officer’s Candidate School, he held numerous command and key staff positions.

He was a rifle company commander in the Korean War, on General Westmoreland’s staff and Special Operations in the Vietnam War. His career included Intelligence and Defense Attache assignments, and contracting and procurement assignments in both Far Eastern and European countries. After his long Army career he also served for seven years with the US Agency for International Development in Egypt, Kenya and Ukraine.

Richard was first and foremost a soldier. His love for the Army was pure, true and absolute. He loved the military life with a passion and dedication that never wavered. He inspired the troops who served under him to reach outside themselves, to go beyond their own limitations, to achieve something greater than they had believed themselves capable of. His ability to motivate people and to get the job done earned him the admiration and respect of his co-workers and superiors.

He is survived by his wife, Julie of Lopez Island, Washington; daughters, Tracy Haraldsen of Virginia, Mary Jenney and Amy Andrews, both of California; granddaughters, Elizabeth and Brenna Haraldsen of Virginia, Danielle Andrews, Alexandra and Samantha Jenney, all of California; sisters, Patricia Shelby, Jean Brown and Mary Sue Mitchell, all of Oklahoma; and a brother, Edward Womack of Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, 1999 at the Fort Myer Post Chapel at Fort Myer, VA. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, to include Full Military Honors rendered by the Old Guard of the US Army.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 2120 First Ave. North, Seattle, Washington 98109-2301.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard