35 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com When 29-year-old Richard “Richie” G. Cliff Jr. awoke on the morning of Sept. 29, 2008, he had a lot to look forward to. Cliff was a U.S. Army captain serving his country in Afghanistan in a war on terrorism, he had earned the highly coveted Green Beret only the year before and he had already earned more than 10 medals in just six years of military service, which later included a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Just before his deployment, Cliff had become a father and was hoping to return to his hometown of Mount Pleasant to reunite with his wife Stacey and newborn son Richard. Unfortunately, Cliff never would get that opportunity. Moments after beginning a reconnaissance mission that same day, Cliff’s jeep struck a makeshift bomb near Yakhchal and exploded. He and two other members of his Operation Enduring Freedom team were killed in action. In the 16 years since then, which everyone in his family still remembers as if it just happened, Cliff has been honored in numerous ways for his heroism and sacrifice, including a framed memorial on the Hero Wall at Fort Moore in Columbus, Georgia.; a 7th Special Forces Group Rock Garden at Eglin Air Force Base near Destin, Florida; and a commemorative coin with his likeness that reads “Always Loved Never Forgotten.” And now the memory Cliff left behind is at last coming home in a special way with the naming of a section in Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park in his honor. “Capt. Cliff’s family requested to our town council in October that his name be added to the memorial fountain,” said Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “And that we name the surrounding dog park in his honor because of his love for dogs.” A motion to accept the request was made by Mount Pleasant Town Council member and former Mount Pleasant Police Department Police Chief Carl Ritchie, and the vote carried unanimously. “It was an honor and privilege to bring this motion, because in many ways this form of recognition is long overdue,” said Ritchie, a 33-year veteran of civilian law enforcement who was recently elected sheriff of Charleston County. “Capt. Cliff is one of those who was taken away far Forever Remembered BY L. C. LEACH III Town dog park dedicated to fallen hero our town
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1