RICHARD H. BUZZELL, LTJG, USN

Richard Buzzell '68

Date of birth: September 27, 1942

Date of death: December 19, 1970

Age: 28

Lucky Bag

From the 1968 Lucky Bag:

RICHARD HOWARD BUZZELL

Arlington, Massachusetts

Buzz, the oldest man in the Brigade, or the "Dirty Old Man" as he is known to most of his friends hails from the city of Arlington, Massachusetts. Buzz is a lover of all sports, and although he was not able to play for Navy except for one season of JV lacrosse; it would be hard to find a more avid fan.

He spent 3 years in the Navy prior to entering USNA, and he has anxiously awaited graduation so that he can fly choppers and do his part in Vietnam.

Buzz adopted the policy of working hard through the week, and as a reward playing equally hard during the weekend. This policy has managed to bring up his below par first year academics and leave him with a little of the highly coveted gravy.

Buzz has a knack for organizing and arousing spirit, and most of all for making friends. I'm sure that when he reaches the fleet he will handle any position he is given with ease.

RICHARD HOWARD BUZZELL

Arlington, Massachusetts

Buzz, the oldest man in the Brigade, or the "Dirty Old Man" as he is known to most of his friends hails from the city of Arlington, Massachusetts. Buzz is a lover of all sports, and although he was not able to play for Navy except for one season of JV lacrosse; it would be hard to find a more avid fan.

He spent 3 years in the Navy prior to entering USNA, and he has anxiously awaited graduation so that he can fly choppers and do his part in Vietnam.

Buzz adopted the policy of working hard through the week, and as a reward playing equally hard during the weekend. This policy has managed to bring up his below par first year academics and leave him with a little of the highly coveted gravy.

Buzz has a knack for organizing and arousing spirit, and most of all for making friends. I'm sure that when he reaches the fleet he will handle any position he is given with ease.

Obituary

From Find A Grave:

Lieutenant Junior Grade Richard Buzzell was attached to Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three as pilot of a SEAWOLF UH-1B Huey helicopter that went down due to aircraft blade failure in Province: Military Region 4 - An Xugen, South Vietnam.

Co-Pilot, LTJG Antonio Olivarez Ortiz; and two other crewmen, AEC Johnny Ratliff; and ADJ2 Robert Earl Worth were also killed.

The date of the crash was December 19, 1970.

Remembrances

From Wall of Faces:

So long ago since we had that last drink the night before your last flight. Even after all these years, you are not forgotten, my friend. RO, LAXRIDE@YAHOO.COM, 11/12/14

Buzz, that's what we called you in HT-8. You were a classmate of mine going through Helo Trainins. Buzz, impossible as it may seem I stayed in the Navy and was somehow promoted to Captain. I remember the great times we had in the Elyson Field O'club. You were young brash, so very confident and fun loving. We both volunteered for HAL-3, my orders were changed, yours were not. Am thinking of you today shipmate, God rest your soul. CAPTAIN KRIS TANDE, USN (RET), CAPTAINLUD@YAHOO.COM, 6/30/04

Memorial Hall Error?

Richard is listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Related Articles

John Esposito '68 and James Jones '68 were also in 22nd Company.

Class of 1968

Richard is one of 29 members of the Class of 1968 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

• ← James Jones '68
• Stephen Arcana '68 →