Politics & Government

FROM PATCHES NEARBY: Lakewood Mayor Mobilized as a Result of 9/11

Douglas Richardson was part of the Army Reserve's massive deployment after terrorist attacks.

He knew immediately what to expect. He knew he would be called to serve his country.

As a colonel in the Army reserve, Lakewood Mayor Douglas Richardson was mobilized as a Brigade Commander and vetted for active duty as a liaison officer for Afganistan-based Joint Task Force 180, one of the first countries the U.S. Special Forces entered post 9/11.

As thousands of soldiers and airmen were deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the city's most prominent public official received his orders in 2002 and reported for duty in 2003.

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He even ended up into a small mission overseas in Afghanistan.

"It was an interesting thing to be here (in Lakewood) one day then get mobilization orders then go through the Fort Bragg process (in North Carolina) and go overseas," Richardson said. "That happened real quick. It was a significant event. I was proud to have served."

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It may have not been the same as jumping out of airplanes as a member of the Ranger battalion in his younger days, but Richardson was one of many whose lives all of a sudden changed as a direct result of 9/11.

"We don't look at security the same anymore," he said. "We don't have a sense of complacency. You find us significantly more alert."

Richardson has enjoyed being part of the military. He graduated from Citadel High School Charleston, S.C., in 1972 and received an Army scholarship.

He graduated from Army ROTC in 1976 as a Commissioned Infantry officer and was stationed in Alaska, then the 2nd Ranger Battalion on Fort Lewis from 1978-81.

He left the active service and entered the reserves, where he remained until 2008.


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