Veteran Spotlight: Sergeant Richard Batista

2021-04-06T08:47:13-04:00

Sergeant Richard Batista served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1968 – 1970. Sergeant Batista did his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. He was then sent to Fort Polk in Louisiana for advanced training and arrived in Vietnam in late 1968 in the 1st Air Cavalry at A Shau Valley where he was dropped into the jungle with an M-16, a pistol, ammo clip and equipment. He described his first impression as “frightening…..you didn’t know what to expect.” He was then assigned to Phu Vinh, where he was promoted to Sergeant. “I was always a leader…..I jumped two ranks….lots of guys were smoking weed, drinking a lot to numb the pain…..never did those things…..had to be alert, focused and in a good frame of mind…..if not, people got killed” he remembered. Sergeant Batista shared his three important qualities of leadership; “stay safe and do the right things….make sure your guns are always cleaned to prevent jamming in a firefight….treat everyone with respect and dignity.”

I asked him about being away for the holidays and he said, “you learn to deal with it….just another day…..saw Bob Hope a couple of times which was good.” Sergeant Batista also shared something powerful – “people tend to complain all the time about their problems…..let me tell you, you don’t have a problem until you know where I was…..you could get killed at any minute” he recalled. Sergeant Batista became emotional when recalling this memory and the heroism of his friend, Lt. Bob Poxon – “It was June 2, 1969 in the Province of Tay Ninh…..got dropped in a landing zone and came under intense fire….one of our guys got hit…..Lt. Poxon went to help the soldier and got hit himself shot…..told us to concentrate our firepower on an enemy bunker he identified…..gets up and runs toward the bunker and pulls the pin out of his grenade.....gets shot a second time….throws the grenade into the bunker but gets shot right before which proved to be fatal….Lt. Poxon’s courage and indomitable will are something that I will always admire and never forget” (Lt. Bob Poxon was awarded The Medal of Honor).

Sergeant Batista also shared a memory on his return home from Vietnam. “We were on a packed TWA flight with soldiers and as soon as we took off, there was a thunderous roar of screaming and yelling…..didn’t stop until we landed in Oakland seventeen hours later.” He continued; I was home for about a week or two, staying at my parent’s house….doorbell rings on a Saturday morning….I answer it and it’s the Mayor, James McIntyre….hands me a fruit basket…..did that for all the veterans in town that morning…..what a man he was” said Sergeant Batista, still touched by the memory. Summing up his service, he said this, “I was so honored to be a decorated combat veteran (he was awarded The Purple Heart and Bronze Star)….I’m proud of the fact for one reason – the designation on the medals I was awarded signifies that I saved lives.”

He is actively involved in the Boston, MA Wounded Veteran Run and continues his work to make veterans lives better. Sergeant Richard Batista, thank you for your service to our great country.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2021 8:52 AM

2021-04-06T08:52:28-04:00

Awesome share, Wayne!

Response by GySgt Thomas Vick made Apr 6 at 2021 10:03 AM

2021-04-06T10:03:25-04:00

Don't know why but this Sgt. Batista is extremely familiar to me, I'll place him, very happy he had a good home coming, wasn't quite the same for me, much worse for that matter, all I can really tell you is that it was something that I'll carry with me to the day that I die.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Apr 6 at 2021 10:22 AM

2021-04-06T10:22:22-04:00

Great share Wayne Soares

Response by SSG Samuel Kermon made Apr 6 at 2021 10:51 AM

2021-04-06T10:51:26-04:00

Awesome story from a humble man many thanks.

Response by MAJ Charles Cooper made Apr 6 at 2021 1:29 PM

2021-04-06T13:29:12-04:00

I don’t know you, but I am proud of you.
Thank-you.

Response by MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. made Apr 6 at 2021 7:29 PM

2021-04-06T19:29:25-04:00

Amen to that, Wayne!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2021 9:03 PM

2021-04-11T21:03:02-04:00

I read LT Poxon’s profile several years ago on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Page. From the photos he appeared so young and so slight it was hard to believe he was old enough to serve, yet alone act so heroically. What a soldier. Appearances certainly can be deceiving. Probably a typo, but it’s Phuoc Vinh which, supposedly, was ground zero for Agent Orange saturation. It had been occupied at one time or another by elements of the 101st, 1st Division, and 1st Cavalry.

Response by Pvt SanJuana Méndez made May 3 at 2021 5:22 PM

2021-05-03T17:22:25-04:00

Sergeant Batista is blessed to have gone home to a loving, caring community. Only person I've heard or read about to receive such a warm welcome home--so soon after returning & by mayor, no less. Welcome home, Sarge.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made May 11 at 2021 11:49 AM

2021-05-11T11:49:56-04:00

One of the god guys.

:)

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made Nov 9 at 2022 6:43 PM

2022-11-09T18:43:45-05:00

Thank you Brother Wayne for sharing this story about Sergeant Richard Batista.
If you had not, we wouldn’t have ever heard of him. Thanks to you, many people now know of his service and exemplary character. God bless you and yours.