Page 80 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine
P. 80
VFW Commander Daniel Rich How to Live a
Rich Life
by Carrie Blair
be ready when the flag goes up— as she followed Dan from place
Marines are the first to fight. to place (to place) during his 21
years in the Marines. While he
Dan encourages all young people was off seeing the world, she was
to serve in the military. He perfectly content taking care of
explained, “I enjoyed it, and it their home and kids. Her hobbies
has been a good lifestyle. It’s a include scrapbooking and making
good idea for everyone to serve cards for holiday events. She
for a couple of years because also enjoys cross stitching; her
the discipline and structure framed work adorns the walls
build character and patriotism.” of their comfortable home. His
He retired as a Marine Master deployments were tough, but
Sergeant when he was 39, then she is really proud of Dan. They
decided to attend Texas Tech on have two daughters: Joni lives in
the GI Bill, earning a business Mesa, Arizona, and Becky lives
degree. After graduation, Dan’s in Bradenton, Florida. They have
second career began as an AT&T been blessed with five grandkids.
Crew Manager in the Bay Area
of California. When a job opened Dan and Cheron were both raised
riginally a native of in Lubbock, he jumped at the going to church. While stationed
upstate New York, Dan chance because he and his wife, in Havelock, North Carolina,
ORich enlisted in the Cheron, wanted to make it their they decided to raise their girls
Marine Corps right out of high forever home. In 2016, he retired like they had been. They visited
school. He attended boot camp from AT&T, or as he jokingly says, several denominations, and after
at Parris Island, South Carolina “They started paying me to stay a few weeks, they visited First
in 1970. After training, he was away.” Being able to have two Baptist Church before a trip
assigned to MCAS Beaufort, retirements is a good incentive for to visit his family. When they
South Carolina to work as an young people to follow that path! returned from vacation, they
Avionics technician, working As the saying goes, “If the were won over when their girls’
on communications as part Marines wanted you to have a names were remembered. This
of the first Harrier team [jet family, they’d have issued you small kindness meant a great
aircraft capable of vertical or one.” Nonetheless, Dan met his deal to them, so they stayed and
short takeoffs and landings (V/ bride while on a deployment from enjoyed the opportunity to learn
STOL)]. By the end of his career, MCAS Beaufort to China Lake, the Bible. A love for God’s Word
he’d helped build other Harrier California, where he attended a grew. They currently worship at
squadrons and was the Squadron buddy’s wedding. The couple Calvary Baptist, where Dan is a
Maintenance Chief of VMA 311 stayed in touch by mail during
during Operation Desert Storm. their whirlwind courtship, from
Dan’s favorite deployments December to the following
were aboard ship in the North September, when they tied the
Atlantic and Mediterranean knot. Some said it would never
Sea, with stops in Spain, last, but their commitment to
France, and England holding one another held them together,
the best memories. In contrast, and they’re celebrating their 50th
deployments to the Middle East anniversary in September.
were absolutely no fun, due to Cheron’s dad was in the Navy,
ongoing conflicts. Of course, all so she understood the lifestyle,
deployments were but practice to
80 Lubbock Senior Link
