Michigan Medal of Honor recipient speaks at Veterans Day breakfast

On this Veterans Day, we are honoring our brave men and women who have fought for our freedom. Right now, we are inside of the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe, and I'm joined by Terry Richardson, retired Command Sergeant Major. Sir, you are the keynote speaker for today. You are going to be in front of many veterans, hundreds of veterans on this Veterans Day. Talk about your feelings right now, sir. I'm really excited to be here. This is the first time I've ever been in this part of Michigan. I've already got up early this morning and I've been thinking about a lot of the soldiers that I've served with and also some of my best friends that are not here with us today too. Oh, but uh... It's just a great day to be here, and it's a humbling experience, to be honest with you. And Mr. Richardson, we cannot thank you enough for your service. You served in Vietnam, is my understanding. And you are a new Medal of Honor recipient, one of two in the state of Michigan, one of 65 across the country. This is a recent honor for you, correct? Yes, I just received the medal on March the 2nd of this year, and President Trump pinned me in Washington, D.C., in the White House. And take us back to those moments, that feeling then and the feeling now. It was actually like overwhelming. It was something I never dreamed of and I've always said this is really not my medal. I wear it for those I served with. I've always felt this belongs to Alpha Company, 1st 28th, part of the 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red One. And I'm just a representative and I'm honored and humbled to be able to do that. And really one of the greatest things about it too is it gives me an opportunity to go back and talk to soldiers and sailors and Marines and those young people that might be considering joining the military someday too. So it's been really an honor and fun. And as a retired command sergeant major, tell us a little bit about that ranking while serving in Vietnam. When I was in Vietnam, I was a staff sergeant, and then I came home. I was drafted in 1967, got out in 1969. I had a nine-year break in service, and then I joined the Michigan Army National Guard. They brought me back as a staff sergeant. That's what I was discharged as, which would be an E-6. And then I belonged to a rifle company in Saginaw, Michigan. I went on. I was the first sergeant. I became the battalion sergeant major. I did that for quite a few years. I had an opportunity to transfer, to take a different job. And my final job in the Michigan Guard, I was a post-sergeant major at Camp Grayling. I was real honored to do that. I actually did that for like 11 years, which is kind of unheard of, but I really enjoyed it. I've always tried to take care of soldiers and try to make their training as realistic as I possibly could. That's what I always did on active duty. And as you speak in front of hundreds of veterans today, what perspective are you looking to share with them? I'm going to talk a little bit today about courage and service, and even though today is Veterans Day, we're honoring veterans, but to never forget those who are not with us today that paid this ultimate sacrifice. Thank you very much, folks. Mr. Richardson, again, thank you for your bravery and your service, and thank you to all of the veterans on this Veterans Day. Thank you. Thank you, and happy Veterans Day, everybody out there, and welcome home, Vietnam veterans. Thank you, sir. And once again, a special event being held here at the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe. The keynote speaker, Mr. Terry Richardson, a Medal of Honor recipient, one of two in the state of Michigan and one of 65 across the United States. In Grosse Pointe, Josh Landon, Fox 2 News.