Sgt Major R. J. Bockelman, USMC (Ret)

[WildcatOne]

The sad news arrived Sunday night. My Uncle Richard J. "Dick" Bockelman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night in San Diego. He had reached the age of 88 years. That leaves my father, Ray, as the only surviving sibling of his generaton in our family. He took this hard, as we all did, but that was his brother, and what a man he was. When Uncle Dick retired from the Marine Corps in 1969, he had 30 years of service in the USMC...he fought bravely in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was wounded in 2 of those conflicts and he served in Iceland, Hawaii, Quantico, WVa, and San Diego. He was the highest-ranking enlisted man in the United States Military when he decided to decline the offer to move to Washington, DC and take over as chief of White House security. He retired and spent the next 15 years as a postman. Everybody who knew Dick Bockelman loved him. He was and always will be the hero of our family. Musically gifted and poetic as well, with an upbeat, happy-go-lucky style, you just wanted to hang out with him...His beloved wife of nearly 60 years died earlier this year, Aunt Mary, who he met in the Marines (she was a woman Marine) and they had six wonderful children, who I know and love. My son Kyle will be attending his full military service when we find out when it will be, in San Diego. His remains will be interred in the military mausoleum at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, where Aunt Mary was interred not long ago. Rest in Peace, Uncle Dick, God Bless you and all you did for us and our country. John Richard (after him) "Hambone" (his nickname for me) Bockelman

[draglist]

Sorry for your loss, John. Thanks to Dick for his service but also for his impact on you -- one of the finest men I've ever met. bp

[jim sanders]

dang sorry John............

[Gator]

Sincere condolences John.
What a MAN your uncle was.
A hero in every sense of the word.

[pro70z28]

Prayers go out o you and your family John.

[RH]

John,
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
You are fortunate to have had such a great man and positive influence in your lives.
RIP.

[Novel-T]

I'm sorry John

[Gator]

The sad news arrived Sunday night. My Uncle Richard J. "Dick" Bockelman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night in San Diego. He had reached the age of 88 years. That leaves my father, Ray, as the only surviving sibling of his generaton in our family. He took this hard, as we all did, but that was his brother, and what a man he was. When Uncle Dick retired from the Marine Corps in 1969, he had 30 years of service in the USMC...he fought bravely in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was wounded in 2 of those conflicts and he served in Iceland, Hawaii, Quantico, WVa, and San Diego. He was the highest-ranking enlisted man in the United States Military when he decided to decline the offer to move to Washington, DC and take over as chief of White House security. He retired and spent the next 15 years as a postman. Everybody who knew Dick Bockelman loved him. He was and always will be the hero of our family. Musically gifted and poetic as well, with an upbeat, happy-go-lucky style, you just wanted to hang out with him...His beloved wife of nearly 60 years died earlier this year, Aunt Mary, who he met in the Marines (she was a woman Marine) and they had six wonderful children, who I know and love. My son Kyle will be attending his full military service when we find out when it will be, in San Diego. His remains will be interred in the military mausoleum at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, where Aunt Mary was interred not long ago. Rest in Peace, Uncle Dick, God Bless you and all you did for us and our country. John Richard (after him) "Hambone" (his nickname for me) Bockelman

What a Man ! What a Marine!
WOW !
God Bless You Sgt. Major Bockelman.......

[WildcatOne]

Thank you for your condolences. This is a chapter in our family that has turned. My Dad also was a Marine, a staff sergeant and Raider Battalion volunteer in the South Pacific in WWII, also a Korean war veteran and 6 years in the reserves. I have a frame here of his medals (I saved it from the house in Galveston that was wiped out by hurricane Ike). Uncle Dick was in the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" They brought him in as a technical advisor and he operated a flame-thrower in the movie...he was the only guy who knew how to use it...he appeared at the premier in Hollywood in his dress blues along with the rest of the people who starred in it. His personality of a friendly, outgoing gentleman contrasted his legacy as a fearless, front-line, formidable warrior in combat. He took care of business when business came up is what he told me. He contacted the base and volunteered to invade Grenada (he'd been retired for several years by then) when that exercize took place but they told him no, if we sent you we'd might as well let everybody else stay home...I got that information from his kids, not him...this was a great man, and I will always be proud to be a member of his family. Again, thanks for these kind words for Uncle Dick. I guarantee he's reading this. Hambone

[Gator]

He's proud of you..Hambone!

I would have been proud just to be in the Sgt. Major's presence...