Richard Fairchild served in the U.S. Army as a Technical Sergeant in Company D, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division during World War II. He was killed in action at the Battle of Luzon, Philippines on April 24, 1945. He was awarded the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for bravery at Bougainville, and the Purple Heart.
