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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.
Description The 1986 United States bombing of Libya, code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon, comprised air strikes by the United States against Libya on Tuesday, 15 April 1986. The attack was carried out by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps via air strikes, in retaliation for the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing. There were 40 reported Libyan casualties, and one U.S. plane was shot down. One of the Libyan dead was a baby girl, who was reported to be Gaddafi's daughter, Hanna Gaddafi. However, there were doubts as to whether she was really killed, or whether she really even existed.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1986
To Month/Year
April / 1986
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).