Richard Eugene Warnick

Published 1:22 pm Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Richard Eugene Warnick, Command Sergeant Major (CSM), U.S. Army (Retired), gained his eternal wings when he slipped away to be with God on March 2, 2024, at the age of 97.

Richard was born September 4, 1926, in Renovo, Pennsylvania, to parents Charles C. and Helen Walsh Warnick. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and lifelong companion, Phyllis Newcom Warnick, as well as brothers, Thomas and Robert Warnick.

Warnick first enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 where he served in Smoke Boat Unit, 3256, in the Okinawa Campaign. He later was assigned to the Seaplane Tender, USS Tangier (AV-8). Warnick later served in the U.S. Air Force, assigned to the U.S. Logistics Group (HQ TUSLOG) in Ankara, Turkey; he subsequently joined the 819th Air Division at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas. Richard began his service in the U.S. Army in the Transportation Corp Trieste U.S Troops (TRUST), followed by duty in Western Area Command, Kaiserslautern, Germany. From there, he transferred to the Combat Arms Branch assigned to the 2/67 th and 2/37 th Armor of the 4th Armored Division, Nuremberg, Germany. He later served as an advisor in Vietnam to the 3rd and 5th Troops of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Squadron. He later was assigned to the 5/32nd Armor and the 2/9th Cavalry Squadron of the 24th Infantry Division, Munich, Germany. Warnick returned to Vietnam a second time as CSM of the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, and the 1/1st Cavalry Squadron of the famed Americal Division. His final overseas tour was CSM of the /64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Aschaffenburg, Germany. He completed his military career as CSM Division/Post, 1st Infantry Division (aka “Big Red One”) at Fort Riley Kansas, retiring in 1977.

Warnick’s numerous military service awards included Combat Infantry Badge, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster), Navy Combat Action Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign w/ Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal, Army Of Occupation Medal, Nation Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/One Silver Star, Republic Of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm and w/Bronze Star, Vietnam Armor Badge.

Richard Warnick was a 1984 graduate of the University of Texas, San Antonio, where he majored in History. He was also a member of Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church since 1977.

Richard moved to Defuniak Springs, Florida in October of 2017 to be near his nephew, Patrick Warnick (his only living relative), and his wife, Jennifer, after having surgery for a broken hip. He made one last move in February of 2019 when Jennifer quit her job to care for him. They bought a small ranch in Opp (Onycha Community) that would accommodate them, and all their dogs, cats, horses and donkeys.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, March 9, 2 p.m., at the Opp Church of Christ. Military Honors to be performed by the VFW. Keahey Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

The family ask if you are available to attend, please do so as they would love to fill the seats on this day to show CSM Richard E. Warnick how much his service to this great nation is appreciated.