Portrait of a Hero – Richard Brinkley
Richard Brinkley, also a Korean veteran, was a law enforcement officer and later in healthcare. He entered the Army at age 19 because as he says “I wasn’t ready for college.” Because of his high scores, he went to Officer Candidate School and became part of the 82nd Airborne. He was sent to Korea in 1968 as a Platoon Leader responsible for forward patrolling to the DMZ going out late in the afternoon to reinforce positions and the towers. He later became a Company Commander and was responsible for his sector of the DMZ.
During January 1968, 31 North Korean commandos disguised as South Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ to assassinate Korean President Park. The result was 28 North Koreans killed, one captured. There were 68 South Koreans killed and 66 wounded. Three Americans were killed and three wounded. In July of that year, North Korean soldiers ambushed one of his patrols killing one American soldier and wounding another. Richard said “One never knows when or where the North Koreans will strike.” He commented on life in the DMZ “It is manned 24/7 and nightly patrols are conducted.” During his time in Korea he lost people. He commented that he still could not speak about those losses, but said “Korea is the forgotten war.” “There is no bullet with your name on it – it only says ‘to whom it may concern’.” He said that the Korean tensions continue today.
He retired in 1971 as a Captain and went into law enforcement in San Mateo, CA. for 6 years. He earned a Masters degree in Public Administration and taught at a community college and Belmont College. He went on to become the Finance Director for Blue Cross and finished his career as the Vice President of a medical device company.
We closed our time together with his advice on service. “Service is not only in the military. It is in service to your community and to people.” He continues to serve the community today.
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Hello from the Arizona Heroes Memorial! We have two days of significance in the next week that we would like to acknowledge. Tomorrow, March 25th, is National Medal of Honor Day. During this day, celebrated since 1991, we remember and honor the heroism and sacrifice of the nation's Medal of Honor recipients. This highest of awards honors members of our armed forces who have distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty. There is no higher example of selfless service.
We also want to acknowledge and thank our Vietnam Veterans. On March 29th, designated as the National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we pay special tribute to the 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War era, to the 58,000 names memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and to those who never received the recognition they deserved when they returned to America from war.
Please take the time to reflect on the many sacrifices made by both Medal of Honor awardees, and by our Vietnam Veterans! Thank you.
Happy 84th Birthday to the US Navy Seabees! On March 5, the U.S. Navy commemorates the establishment of the Seabees by remembering their heritage and extensive contributions to naval history during the past 84 years and recognizing their important mission today. These engineers were deployed worldwide and continue to serve the U.S. Navy to this day. During World War II, their “Can Do” attitude helped them build forward bases, airfields, and critical infrastructure across the Pacific.
The Seabees’ unusual name comes from the pronunciation of C.B. for "construction battalions." This inspired the Seabee logo, which depicts a buzzing bee holding construction tools and a rifle. Happy 84th Birthday!
Hello from the Arizona Heroes Memorial! Tomorrow, January 9, 2026 is Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Day across the nation. Our Brothers and Sisters in Law Enforcement perform many vital duties each day keeping us safe and ensuring we can live our lives in peace. Our country depends on these everyday heroes to preserve law and order. We thank them and are pleased to have significant representation at the Memorial of these incredible people!
This special recognition day was established in 2015 to honor the selfless service and dedication of law enforcement officers, to acknowledge their sacrifices, and to raise awareness about the challenges and dangers they face every day. Please thank one of these unsung heroes at every opportunity!
