Richard A. Goward
Specialist, Army National Guard
July 9, 1970 – April 14, 2003
Age – 32
Midland, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
1460th Transportation Company, Michigan Army National Guard, Midland, MI
Killed when his vehicle struck another during a dust storm in Iraq.
Army Spc. Richard A. Goward served on active duty with the Army from 1990 to 1996, then joined the Michigan National Guard after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On active duty he had been with the 12th Special Forces group in Oklahoma. He was an airborne paratrooper and received his Green Beret with that unit.
He was one of 100 soldiers sent to the Middle East from the Army National Guard’s 1460th Transportation Company. He was known as a kind, caring and dedicated soldier and could always the mood with his positive attitude.
He told his wife, ”If I can’t protect my family, then who can?” He displayed a large sign in their yard saying “Proud to Be An American”.