MSgt. Richard Laverne Sargent, Jr.

Richard L. Sargent, Sr., USAF Master Sergeant (Ret.), age 83, of Ocean Springs, passed away peacefully at home under the loving care of his family on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, celebrating his 56th Wedding anniversary. Richard was a native of Sergeants Bluff Iowa, born on the Fourth of July 1924 in a small farm house. He was the eldest of five siblings. A natural born patriot and being a decorated Veteran of three foreign wars - World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars- he was affectionately called our "Yankee Doodle Daddy." At the age of 19 he enlisted in the Army at Fort Dodge, Iowa, on 10, March, 1943. During WWII he served with the 53rd Armored Engineer Battalion 8th Company Army B Division; a mechanized infantry unit that participated in the follow-up relief efforts of Bastogne, Belgium, following the Battle of the Bulge, as well as worked with securing P.O.W. camps. Returning from overseas, he was honorably discharged from the Army as a Corporal First Class (Tech 5) on 7 February 1946. From 1946 to 1947 he served in the Army Reserves and the Sioux City Iowa National Guard, which were affiliated with the Army Air Corp. In 1947 he became an inaugural member of the United States Air Force as a new service branch for the military. During his 28-year Air Force career, he participated both in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a flight line machinist supporting combat aircraft. Throughout his entire military career, spanning over 31 years, he witnessed monumental cultural changes in the military. He encouraged the desegregation of the military and supported more roles for women in the military. He honorably retired from the United States Air Force as a "First Shirt" on January 1, 1975 from Keesler AFB. In his civilian life he worked at Ingall's Shipbuilding for fifteen years as a machinist and a master journeyman until he retired in 1990. Socially he was actively involved in the local V.F.W. and liked participating in the V.F.W. Mardi Gras Balls by dressing up in various funny costumes. He and his family have been residing in Ocean Springs since 1972. While stationed at Loring AFB, Bangor, Maine, he met the "Love of His Life", Mary G. Bohan, at the USO, where they shared there first dance together. They were married on November 2, 1951, and honeymooned in Niagara Falls. They danced and laughed together for 56 years while raising six wonderful children. He was a devoted and loving husband and father. He enjoyed dancing, nature, gardening and loved animals. He had a great sense of humor. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Alice Sargent; a sister, Dorthea Fullerton; brothers, Charles Sargent and George Sargent. Richard is survived by his wife of fifty six years, Mary G. Sargent of Ocean Springs; daughter TSgt Julie A. Sargent, USAF; son, Col. Richard L. Sargent, Jr., USAF (Ret.), both of Ocean Springs; sons, Edwin W. Sargent of Tryon, NC; James E. (Brenda) Sargent and William J. (Rhonda) Sargent of Ocean Springs and Robert E. Sargent of Charleston, SC. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Rik Jason, Cierah, Tazdyn, Bobby, Jazlyn, Aili and Seth. He is also survived by his beloved brother Elbert and his wife Dorothy with their two children Roxanne and Patrick of Sergeants Bluff, IA. Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the ocean Springs Chapel of the Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, Nov. 7 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, Ocean Springs, MS., with visitation one hour prior to service. A military burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Biloxi National Cemetery.