Veterans Day: Saluting late Buddy Richardson who served in the Army in WW2, Marines in Korea & Navy in Vietnam

The late Buddy Richardson of New Smyrna Beach / Headline Surfer® The late Buddy Richardson / Headline Surfer® NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- It's not unusual for US military personnel to do several tours of duty in say, Afghanistan. But you'd have to be hard-pressed to find a local who served his country in three separate branches of the military in three distinct wars or conflicts involving US men and women who have been in harm's way in serving our great nation.

One such US hero is the late Boyd "Buddy" Richardson of New Smyrna Beach, who served in three branches of the military during three major wars: the Army during World War II, in the Marines during the Korean War, and in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Richardson died in 2010 at the age of 81.

Volusia County resident Danielle Oldham, who organizerd her second and last "Run for the Fallen," a 5k walk/run in honor of US military personnel a week before Richardson's unexpected passing, remembered him at the time with the following passage: "My run was missing one important thing and that was Buddy Richardson. He did a very heroic thing for me for my run in 2008 with his caboose being there and his flags set-up. Unfortunately, he wasnt able to make it to the run to do the same this year and I found out a few days ago he had passed away so I just want to tell Buddy's family thank you for letting me have the opportunity to meet him and hear different stories of the military he shared."

Volusia County resident Danielle Oldham, who organizerd her second and last "Run for the Fallen," a 5k walk/run in honor of US military personnel a week before Richardson's unexpected passing, remembered him at the time with the following passage:

"My run was missing one important thing and that was Buddy Richardson. He did a very heroic thing for me for my run in 2008 with his caboose being there and his flags set-up. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it to the run to do the same this year and I found out a few days ago he had passed away so I just want to tell Buddy's family thank you for letting me have the opportunity to meet him and hear different stories of the military he shared."

Richardson, who had an elaborate caboose (with wheels) with military photos and information from the conflicts he was a part of, had been an integral part of her initial Run for the Fallen two years prior organized by Oldham.

Buddy Richardson's last public appearance was at the 2010 New Smyrna Beach Veteran's Family Parade, a month before Oldham's event, with the parade sponsored by VFW Post 4250, for which he provided 1,000 flags for display.

Oldham & Richardson to be enshrined under entity 'Run for the Fallen' in inaugural Class of 2016 HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame

Danille Oldham, organizer of the Run for the Fallen / Headline Surfer®

Internet news Hall of Famer Frank Bruno / Headsline Surfer®

Internet News Hall of Famer Ted Doran / Headline Surfer®

Headline Surfer® photos /

Danielle Oldham and the late Buddy Richardson, shown at far left, will be inducted into the internet newspaper's Hall of Fame under the entity, 'Run for the Fallen' along with former Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno and Ted Doran, as part of a 100-member inaugural class.

Oldham and Richardson will be paired under the heading, "Run for the Fallen" in the inaugural Class of 2016 HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame.

Heading up the class is the first overall entrant, Frank Bruno, first-ever elected Volusia County chair; the second official entrant is Ted Doran, Daytona Beach private attorney and counsel to the Volusia County School Board.

In all 100 entrants will be named from Central Florida and some beyond. The entire class will be unveiled on Thanksgiving Day when the internet also will announce its Politician of the Year and begin its countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2015, which will lead to the top story of the year announced on New Year's Day.