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Contact Info
Home Town Rice Lake, Wisc.
Last Address Weems, VA Interment in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington; however, he also has a marker at: Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Date of Passing May 24, 2009
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Vice Admiral Richard C. "Sweetpea" Allen, United States Navy (Retired), 69, of Weems, VA transferred to eternal life on May 24, 2009. A native of Wisconsin, he entered naval service in 1959 as a Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD). He served as a carrier based A4 Skyhawk and A6 Intruder jet pilot until 1971 when deteriorating eyesight forced re-designation as a Naval Flight Officer and transition to bombardier navigator in the Intruder. He saw Vietnam combat service in 67/68, served in 5 aviation squadrons, several staff assignments, and six commands including: VA-85; Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6); USS Detroit (AOE-4); USS America (CV-66); Carrier Group Six (CCG-6); and Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He was the first Naval Flight Officer to serve as a Carrier Air Wing Commander.
During operational assignments, he participated in a number of crisis responses and combat operations. They included the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the Vietnam War (1967-68), Cyprus Conflict (1973), Libya Gulf of Sidra Operations (1981), Lebanon operations (1983), Libya combat operations (1986), and Caribbean counter drug operations (1990).
Awards included the Distinguished Service Medal (x2), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (x3), Distinguished Flying Cross (x2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (x2), Air Medal (2 individual and seven strike flight awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, National Defense Medal, Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, and several other campaign and unit awards.
He worked in the corporate world until 1998, was President of the Association of Naval Aviation until 2001, then worked as a private consultant for companies supporting Department of Defense programs. Moving to Northern Neck in 1998, he was President of the Northern Neck Military Officers Association of America (NNMOAA) in 05-06. He was an elder at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems, Va.
He attended Stout State College in Wisconsin for two years prior to joining the Navy, received a BS degree in Engineering Science from Naval Postgraduate School in 1971, and had graduate study in Computer Systems Management. He was also a graduate of Flag Officer Capstone training at National Defense University.
He is survived by his wife Peggy (mn: Margaret Fricks Hall of Marietta, GA) of 45 years of Weems; daughter Laura Hall of Weems; sisters Barbara Frey and husband Ernie of San Bernardino, Cal.; Kathy May of San Bernardino, Cal.; Marilyn Jackson of Highland, Cal.; and brothers Everett Allen Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona; and Robert Allen and wife Temmi of Coon Rapids, Minn.
A service of celebration was held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church with Rev. W. Clay Macaulay officiating. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 9 at Fort Myers Chapel with interment in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington with Full Military Honors.
There is also a Family Grave Marker at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, at Weems in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (66-67)
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description This Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocking support for allied ground sweeps. For instance, during Operation Irving in October 1966, ground forces and junk units in II Coastal Zone killed 681 Viet Cong troops. In addition, the junkmen established a government presence among the fishermen and provided them with medical services and other assistance. Sometimes the Coastal Force sailors convinced Communist soldiers to desert their units.
The enemy, who often attacked the 27 vulnerable Coastal Force bases, overran the triangular-shaped fortifications of Coastal Group 15 at Cua An Hoa in July 1965 and of Coastal Group 16 at Co Luy in August 1967. Other bases, however, withstood repeated assaults. In doing so, these facilities played a part in the allied effort that denied the enemy easy access to the coastal regions.
Viet Cong mines also took their toll of the command's MLMS fleet, which worked to keep open the shipping channel to Saigon. In August 1966 and again in January 1967, enemy mines sank an MLMS in the Rung Sat. The River Force did not fully employ its strength. The political troubles of 1965 and 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam, in which high-ranking River Force officers figured prominently, damaged morale and distracted personnel from their military mission.
The navy and the army rarely launched joint amphibious assaults against the Viet Cong. Operations reflected the River Force's lack of technically skilled crewmen, the poor maintenance and repair of river craft, and the absence of inspired leadership. Usually, only half of the command's units were ready for combat action, and many of these boats were committed by the army to static guard, resupply, troop lift, or other nonoffensive duties.
The reliance on defense over offense reflected the historic Vietnamese strategy of husbanding resources until there was clear advantage over an enemy. The Vietnamese Navy's River Force sailors often fought hard and bravely, killing many of the enemy and suffering heavy losses of their own, but their valor and sacrifice was not rewarded with strategic success.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories During operational assignments, he participated in a number of crisis responses and combat operations. They included the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the Vietnam War (1967-68), Cyprus Conflict (1973), Libya Gulf of Sidra Operations (1981), Lebanon operations (1983), Libya combat operations (1986), and Caribbean counter drug operations (1990).
