Sunday, May 28, 2000
Military is a family tradition
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
Four out of five generations of Tiffin's Chadwick family were in the military, from the War of 1812 through the Vietnam War.
During World War II, Richard Chadwick Sr. was in North Africa and Okinawa. His son, Richard Jr., was in Vietnam for a year. His grandfather, Henry Clay Chadwick, was a Civil War soldier who was present when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. His great-grandfather, Tom Chadwick, fought in the War of 1812.
Only Richard's father, Harry, did not serve during a war.
"Scrapper that he was, they were lucky he didn't go to war," said Richard Jr., who goes by Rick.
Richard Chadwick Jr.
Rick enlisted in the Army in 1969. He was attending Bowling Green State University when he joined.
"I was studying to be an artist," he said.
Rick earned a Bronze Star with a V device for valor for his actions on May 27, 1970, as a soldier in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, the American Division.
The company was conducting a search and clear operation when it came under intense fire.
Rick's award documents states, "In the initial hostile barrage, a friendly soldier was wounded and pinned down in an exposed area. Responding immediately to the urgency of the situation, Sergeant Chadwick placed a heavy volume of suppressive fire on the insurgents, neutralizing their attack and allowing his comrade to be withdrawn from the exposed area. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he rushed to the injured man's side and assisted in carrying him to a secure area. Despite hostile rounds impacting near him, Sergeant Chadwick remained with the man until he could be treated. Through his timely actions, he was instrumental in saving his comrade's life and served as an inspiration to his entire unit."
Rick was in Vietnam for a year and was all over the country. "Mostly getting shot at," he said. "I didn't do much shooting."
Rick said he tried to be a comedian and keep his fellow soldiers in good spirits.
"I didn't love it in Vietnam, but there were some good times," he said.
Once, a group of about 100 soldiers were walking along the South China Sea. Rick said it was very hot, and he took off his clothes and ran into the water.
"I didn't get reprimanded for it," he said. "I'm glad I did it. I hope they laughed about it."
During his off times, Rick was able to travel to Hong King and Japan. He kept a scrapbook of pictures of his friends and places he went while he was in Vietnam. He also carried a Bible with him.
"Everybody did," he said. "There's no atheists in the foxhole."
Rick would like to go back to Vietnam someday to see how it has changed. He said he would like to take his parents, so they can see the country as well.
"If you want to see a beautiful country, see Vietnam," he said. "I felt sorry for the Vietnamese. (There were many) poor people. It's one of the poorest countries in the world. I'd like to see what it looks like today."
Richard Chadwick Sr.
Richard Sr., who goes by Rich, enlisted in the Navy Aug. 4, 1941. He left the Navy four years, one month and 30 days later, according to his discharge papers.
Rich, an airplane mechanic, did not see any combat. Initially, he was stationed at Grosse Ile, Mich. There was a base where the Royal Air Force did primary training. As in the other places he was assigned, Rich spent his time working on airplanes.
In 1943, he was sent to French Morocco, in North Africa. He again was stationed at an air base. He spent little time away from the base.
"Once in a great while, they let us off for a half day," Rich said. "We had to be back by dark."
He spent little time aboard ship, despite being in the Navy.
"The only time I was on a ship was going there, coming back and going to Okinawa," Rich said.
For the eight months he was in North Africa, he worked on bombers, called PBYs.
In 1945, Rich was sent to Okinawa. The war was still going on, and he often could see Japanese planes flying overhead. His unit was protected by Marines, and he carried a rifle and a gas mask.
"I was there until they dropped the atomic bomb," he said.
Rich was unable to do any sight-seeing in Okinawa, either.
"All I did was work in the air base there. We were working on planes all the time every day."
After the war was over, Rich was discharged, got married and lived in Wyandot, Mich., for two years. He returned to Tiffin in 1948 and took a job as a plumber, and has lived in Tiffin since.
H. C. Chadwick
Rich's grandfather, Henry Clay Chadwick, was born in Tiffin April 8, 1837. He not only was present at Lee's surrender, but also fought with Gen. George Custer during the war.
Rich's sister, Ruth Carlene, researched H.C. Chadwick's history. He enlisted Dec. 9, 1856, in the U. S. Cavalry. After the start of the Civil War, he fought in several battles and was captured in the fall of 1861 at Wilson Creek. He was transferred several times, before being paroled at Richmond in the spring of 1862. He enlisted again as a first lieutenant in the Michigan Cavalry. He fought in 16 battles during the war, including Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and Bull Run.
Rich said his sister's research documents contained H.C. Chadwick's writing about a battle in which he was aide-de-camp to Custer. Custer's Union troops attacked the Confederates at Beaver Dam in Virginia on May 9, 1864.
"It was dark, eleven o'clock at night, and we pressed on after the enemy, until coming upon the reserve. We then formed in line and charged, driving them out with but slight resistance, and capturing some 60 or 70 confederates, two locomotives and a number of cars. We soon set fire to the station and commenced tearing up the track; but it was not long before we found our mistake in building a bonfire. It gave the enemy a decided advantage over us, and it was not long until the bullets flew thick and fast, with a telling effect on us men, who sought shelter behind the cars, embankment, ties, or wherever shelter was afforded them. Every man and officer was now under cover except the gallant little Custer. Three color-bearers had fallen by his side, and his color staff had been broken off short; he grasped the flag and sticking the piece of staff in his boot, ordered his bugler to sound, 'to horse.' As soon as the men were in their saddles, he placed himself at the head of the first regiment that came, and with a cheer dashed into the darkness, in the direction of the firing. It was a desperate charge, but we soon cut a road out which turned the scale of the battle in our favor and when morning dawned we had completed our work."
After the war, he was appointed a scout and served 18 months on the frontier. He was discharged after spending 10 years and two months in the military.
Other Chadwicks
H.C.'s brother, Samuel, also served during the Civil War and was a prisoner in Andersonville for 18 months.
H.C.'s father and Rich's great-grandfather, Thomas, served in the War of 1812 under Benjamin Harrison. Thomas was wounded at Fort Croghan. He was a member of the topographical surveying corps, which cut a road from Sandusky to Columbus.