I come here today to honor a soldier, a gentleman, a hero and a friend. More than a friend....Richard and Lynn are like family to my wife, Carol, and me. I met Richard ten years ago through our wives, Carol and Lyn. A strong friendship developed. The four of us traveled to many wonderful places and spent many happy hours together.

The greatest common denominator between Richard and myself may have been calamari. When we went to an Italian restaurant, the ladies would contemplate the many entrees on the menu as Richard and I waited patiently, with a knowing smile on our faces. When the waitress turned to us for our order, the first would respond with “fried calamari and calamari with marinara sauce”. The second simply answered “Same as him.”  Richard and I were in our glory several times when we found restaurants that served calamari salad; fried calamari and calamari with marinara sauce. The joke between us was, we had to find a calamari dessert and the meal would be complete.

Somewhere in one of the great rooms of heaven.....There is a reunion today.

100’s, maybe 1,000s of American and Filipino soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in the Philippines; those who died in battle; those who died while walking without food and water on the Bataan Death March; those who died of disease in the Prison Camps O’Donnell and Cabanatuan, those who died aboard Hell Ships headed for camps outside the Philippines.

All have gathered to welcome another hero. In addition to saying “Welcome Richard. We suffered through Hell so we could see Heaven, I am sure they are saying.. THANK YOU, RICHARD. Thank you for keeping the memory of our sacrifice alive.

I am sure that in most eulogies one would never hear what I am going to say about my friend,
Richard.

Richard Gordon was a Bastard.

He proudly told everyone that he was!

He was one of the Battling Bastards of Bataan.

A title that the soldiers, themselves, coined when they felt that their own government had forgotten them.

Richard spent 3 ½ years as a Japanese prisoner of war. He saw atrocities that would make all of us ill. He survived the notorious Bataan Death March where 1000’s of soldiers were forced to walk in extreme heat, a journey of 85 miles. My family lost a loved one in that march. Richard survived a 26-mile trip in a hot, locked freight car with men packed in so tightly it was difficult to breathe. Men died standing up.

Richard survived the Prisoner of war camps but not without suffering debilitating illnesses. 1,600
Americans died in O’Donnell in less than 2 months; almost 3,000 died in Cabanatuan. He survived three weeks at sea in the hole of a Japanese freighter being transported to Japan. Richard’s 21st birthday passed aboard that ship. Up to 1,800 Americans perished in one transport ship alone.  Richard survived. He survived Camp Mitsushima in Japan.  He stated in his book and to close friends, that the tough times he experienced as a young boy on the streets of Hells Kitchen, in New York City, helped him survive his years as a POW.

With all this, it always amazed me that Richard held no animosity toward the people of Japan, just his captors.

When Richard returned home, he remained in the Army until 1960. One of his many accomplishments was to receive his college degree from the University of Maryland at the age of 50.  He went on to earn a Master’s Degree from C.W. Post. Richard was proud of his academic achievement.

Richard accomplished many things after the war but he confided to Lyn that his proudest accomplishment was building the The Camp O’Donnell Memorial Monument in the Philippines to honor those who died at that prisoner of war camp.  Under Richard’s direction and passion, the monument stands as a tribute to the lives lost in that camp. Richard dedicated his life to keeping the memory of those who died, alive.  He did not do this for recognition or for his personal benefit.  Richard gave of himself so that those who made the ultimate sacrifice would not be forgotten.

Richard made presentations to young students in schools; at fraternal organizations and to the media so that the world would not forget the brave soldiers who died in the Philippines.

Richard was a proud American. He loved his country. Being with Richard made you feel good about America. I have stood for the Star Spangled Banner many times and watched the American flag pass by. But, when I was with Richard and saw his compassion and pride as we stood together, I appreciated being an American even more.

Richard tells of his journey home after being released as a prisoner of war. The ship transporting the POWs first docked in Victoria, Vancouver, BC. The US decided to be a good neighbor and drop off the Canadian POWs first. In Richard’s own words from his book, Horyo....They arrived at the harbor about midnight in pitch darkness. Suddenly, their transport was illuminated by a huge
searchlight from another ship, then another ship’s light, then a third, then a fourth until every ship in the harbor, hundreds of them focused their lights on the transport. The sounds of whistles and horns were blasting from the ships and shore welcoming home the Canadian POWs. Each Canadian soldier had his name, rank and organization announced as they came down the gangplank. Over 3,000 Canadians came to greet their POWs. Their heroes.

Richard and the other Americans thought. “This is great but wait until we get home. They tried to
sleep that night in anticipation of their homecoming.  They arrived in Seattle, Washington at 7 am in a thick fog. When the fog lifted, there was their welcoming Committee....... one drunk, sleeping it off on the pier.

I know that when Richard entered the gates of Heaven there was a huge welcoming committee, this time, that the bright light of God’s love illuminated his way. I am sure there was the sound of horns and singing. And, with the Lord’s permission, I would like to announce my friend as he goes home, to eternal rest..... Maj. Richard Gordon, US Army, retired.

The greatest tribute that we can pay to Richard and all the men and women who have served our
country is to be sure that the memory of what they did for our freedom never dies. We must assure that future generations do not forget the sacrifices that were made so that they can live in a free country.  Richard always said, “ Freedom is not free.”

Richard also said that there were few heroes. They were the ones who died in battle. I have to disagree with my friend.  Richard YOU are a hero.

In his book, Richard tells of the first Japanese word he learned from his captors. While walking that long, horrific journey known as the Bataan Death March, he heard a word that he said sounded like “q-kay” and it meant, “take a rest.”

“q-kay, Richard, “q-kay”  Take a rest. May you rest in the peace of knowing that your loved ones, your friends, your country will not forget what you; your fallen comrades and surviving comrades did for our freedom and this great country.

Joseph R. Auriemma

30 July 2003