November 5, 2016 Member Meeting
Richard Hunt was born into a Navy family. His Grandfather served in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor during WW2. His Father served in the Korean War on the Battleship New Jersey.
At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After initial training at Paris Island, South Carolina and Camp Lejeune North Carolina, he was assigned duty at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii with the 1st Battalion 27th Marine Regiment as a Battalion Scout. Sniper School and Vietnamese language schools, amongst others, followed.
The Battalion was sent as a unit to Vietnam as reinforcements for TET, 1968. He saw heavy combat in multiple operations.
After recovering from wounds, 19 year old Sergeant Hunt completed Marine Security Guard School for Embassy Duty and the Foreign Service Institute in the German language and was assigned to the Consulate in Hamburg, Germany.
After completion of his enlistment with an Honorable Discharge, taking advantage of the GI Bill, he attended college, majoring in business and minoring in accounting and German.
Since joining the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Patriot Hunt has been very active at the Chapter and Department levels. He has served as the Department of Florida Commander for three years and continues to serve as President, Purple Heart Veterans of Florida, Inc. fundraising for the Department. Richard was selected as the National Patriot of the Year for 2016-2017.
His passion has been advocating for Veterans. He continues to help Veterans and their families navigate through complex systems seeking help and deserved benefits.
Richard is retired from the US Postal Service and lives with his wife Mickey in Floral City.
ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING HIS PURPLE HEART VETERANS PATRIOT OF THE YEAR AWARD:
1. Specifically, What has this Patriot done in the past year to warrant his award of the Patriot of the Year?
Patriot Hunt’s indefatigable and diligent dedication to his fellow Patriots, Chapter 776 and the Department of Florida singularly distinguish him as a Patriot without peer. During this past year, his most significant accomplishment on behalf of his fellow Patriots was the securing of a home for a disabled Purple Heart veteran and his family at no cost and obtaining a donated vehicle for a Chapter 776 Patriot. Also, he has been the driving force behind the Quilts of Valor and Heartstrings for Heroes programs that pay tangible tribute to the service of our nation’s veterans.
2. What Department or Chapter responsibilities/projects has the Patriot been involved with?
A. DEPARTMENT?
For the past two years, Patriot Hunt has led the fundraising efforts for the Department as the President, Purple Heart Veterans of Florida, Inc. He serves as the Department of Florida Coordinator for the State of Florida’s Operation Outdoor Freedom, the Department’s Afghanistan/Iraq Memorial Portrait Mural, and the Department’s program honoring the Fallen with the presentation of memorial plaques to their Next of Kin. He also served as the Department’s liaison to Gold Star families.
B. CHAPTER?
Patriot Hunt has been a driving force in promoting the chapter’s public visibility and carrying out Chapter projects and activities in selfless support of the Chapter’s purpose of “Promoting the proud legacy of the Purple Heart Medal.” He has faithfully executed the duties as the Chapter’s Senior Vice Commander. Also, he is the Chapter’s representative on the planning committee for the Citrus County Builders Association Annual Family Fishing Tournament, which is the Chapter’s principal source of income to support its operations and charitable works. He continues to be the Project Officer and Master of Ceremonies for the Chapter’s annual Purple Heart Ceremony honoring our fallen heroes and combat wounded, which is the Chapter’s signature activity and the county’s premier veterans’ event that averages approximately 500 attendees. Additionally, he has played a key role in the Chapter’s efforts to have the county government, school district, sheriff’s office and the cities of Crystal River and Inverness to be designated as “Purple Heart” entities. Lastly, he is a faithful participant and contributor at the Chapter’s executive meetings and general meetings and is always the first to volunteer for ad hoc committees or special events.
At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After initial training at Paris Island, South Carolina and Camp Lejeune North Carolina, he was assigned duty at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii with the 1st Battalion 27th Marine Regiment as a Battalion Scout. Sniper School and Vietnamese language schools, amongst others, followed.
The Battalion was sent as a unit to Vietnam as reinforcements for TET, 1968. He saw heavy combat in multiple operations.
After recovering from wounds, 19 year old Sergeant Hunt completed Marine Security Guard School for Embassy Duty and the Foreign Service Institute in the German language and was assigned to the Consulate in Hamburg, Germany.
After completion of his enlistment with an Honorable Discharge, taking advantage of the GI Bill, he attended college, majoring in business and minoring in accounting and German.
Since joining the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Patriot Hunt has been very active at the Chapter and Department levels. He has served as the Department of Florida Commander for three years and continues to serve as President, Purple Heart Veterans of Florida, Inc. fundraising for the Department. Richard was selected as the National Patriot of the Year for 2016-2017.
His passion has been advocating for Veterans. He continues to help Veterans and their families navigate through complex systems seeking help and deserved benefits.
Richard is retired from the US Postal Service and lives with his wife Mickey in Floral City.
ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING HIS PURPLE HEART VETERANS PATRIOT OF THE YEAR AWARD:
1. Specifically, What has this Patriot done in the past year to warrant his award of the Patriot of the Year?
Patriot Hunt’s indefatigable and diligent dedication to his fellow Patriots, Chapter 776 and the Department of Florida singularly distinguish him as a Patriot without peer. During this past year, his most significant accomplishment on behalf of his fellow Patriots was the securing of a home for a disabled Purple Heart veteran and his family at no cost and obtaining a donated vehicle for a Chapter 776 Patriot. Also, he has been the driving force behind the Quilts of Valor and Heartstrings for Heroes programs that pay tangible tribute to the service of our nation’s veterans.
2. What Department or Chapter responsibilities/projects has the Patriot been involved with?
A. DEPARTMENT?
For the past two years, Patriot Hunt has led the fundraising efforts for the Department as the President, Purple Heart Veterans of Florida, Inc. He serves as the Department of Florida Coordinator for the State of Florida’s Operation Outdoor Freedom, the Department’s Afghanistan/Iraq Memorial Portrait Mural, and the Department’s program honoring the Fallen with the presentation of memorial plaques to their Next of Kin. He also served as the Department’s liaison to Gold Star families.
B. CHAPTER?
Patriot Hunt has been a driving force in promoting the chapter’s public visibility and carrying out Chapter projects and activities in selfless support of the Chapter’s purpose of “Promoting the proud legacy of the Purple Heart Medal.” He has faithfully executed the duties as the Chapter’s Senior Vice Commander. Also, he is the Chapter’s representative on the planning committee for the Citrus County Builders Association Annual Family Fishing Tournament, which is the Chapter’s principal source of income to support its operations and charitable works. He continues to be the Project Officer and Master of Ceremonies for the Chapter’s annual Purple Heart Ceremony honoring our fallen heroes and combat wounded, which is the Chapter’s signature activity and the county’s premier veterans’ event that averages approximately 500 attendees. Additionally, he has played a key role in the Chapter’s efforts to have the county government, school district, sheriff’s office and the cities of Crystal River and Inverness to be designated as “Purple Heart” entities. Lastly, he is a faithful participant and contributor at the Chapter’s executive meetings and general meetings and is always the first to volunteer for ad hoc committees or special events.
L - R: Chapter President Clyde Johnson, Richard Hunt, Mrs. Hunt, Secretary Larry Sturgeon
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L - R: Chapter President Clyde Johnson, Ken Wells, Mrs. Wells, Secretary Larry Sturgeon. L - R: Chapter President Clyde Johnson, Benjamin Warren and Secretary Larry Sturgeon.
At our November 5, 2016 General Meeting Compatriot Warren was presented with his Korean
War Service Medal. Compatriot Warren served in Korea with the U.S. Army from July 7, 1954 to July 3, 1956.
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L - R: Chapter President Clyde Johnson, Benjamin Warren and Secretary Larry Sturgeon.
At our November 5, 2016 General Meeting Compatriot Warren was presented with his Korean
War Service Medal. Compatriot Warren served in Korea with the U.S. Army from July 7, 1954 to July 3, 1956.
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L - R: Cathy McAllister, Bruce McAllister and Chapter President Clyde Johnson.
At our November 5, 2016 General Meeting Compatriot McAllister was inducted
into the Withlacoochee Chapter Sons of the American Revolution. His wife, Cathy,
pinned Compatriot McAllister's rosette on his lapel during the ceremony.
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