Origins and Mission
The first Soldiers of the Sea, Band of Brothers event took place on November 10, 1999, when retired Marine Tom Richards and former Marine Joe Preis celebrated the 224th Marine Corps Birthday together at Il Fornaio in Irvine, California.
That evening, Tom and Joe discussed organizing a larger gathering of Marines and friends of Marines to commemorate the glory of our Corps. There has been a Soldiers of the Sea, Band of Brother Marine Corps Ball every year since.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between Southern California's business and the Marine Corps Communities by promoting Corps values, fostering patriotism, and promoting service to our Nation and communities.
Tom was called to his final duty station on June 18, 2014. He is terribly missed. The annual Beer Stein Award has been renamed the Thomas A. Richards Memorial Beer Stein Award in his Honor.
Thomas A. Richards
April 4, 1947 – June 18, 2014
Beloved husband, dedicated friend, avid veterans’ advocate, American Patriot and highly decorated Marine. Thomas A. Richards was born to (and preceded in death by) Howard Thomas and Vera Nelson Richards in Madison, WI on April 4, 1947.
His bear hugs, ear-to-ear smiles, bellowing laughter, incredibly warm disposition, and zeal for life will be dearly missed.
Tom was raised on the west side of Madison, WI and attended Randall Elementary School and West Middle and High School. As a high school sophomore,
he discovered his aptitude for long distance running and became a star runner on both the cross country and track teams.
His love of running continued throughout his life, including competing in several marathons. Following his graduation from high school, he worked as a machinist.
In 1967, Tom joined the Marine Corps and found his life's passion. After completing recruit training he was selected to attend scout sniper school and Vietnamese Language School at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He was then assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines in the Republic of Vietnam where he earned a meritorious combat promotion to the rank of sergeant, the Navy Cross Medal for valor in combat, and the Purple Heart Medal for his wounds. Upon completing his assignment with the 9th Marines, Tom served as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
While serving as a drill instructor he was selected for the Marine Associate Degree Completion Program, received his associate’s degree, and was selected to attend Officer Candidate School through the Marine Corps’ Enlisted Commissioning Program. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
Tom served four tours in infantry units and in various staff positions from battalion to division level. In addition to the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, Tom was awarded numerous other personal decorations and service medals, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, of which he was most proud. He retired in 1995 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Both during and after the Corps, Tom’s civic service and pursuit of academic excellence was legendary. He actively participated in the Legion of Valor and served as its National Commander, 2008. He was widely known for his nine years serving with Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. in the Rancho Bernardo community of San Diego, CA. He was active in the Rotary Club and established the Miramar Semper Fidelis Rotary Club on the Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar; only the second service club on an active military base anywhere in the world. He was an active member of the San Diego County United Veterans Council (UVC) and served as the UVC chairmanship for 2010.
He co-founded the Soldiers of the Sea, Band of Brothers Inc., an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the Marine Corps and business communities. Tom served as a mentor to the San Diego State University Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and was presented with its “Mentor for Life” Award, its highest honor. He was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Veterans Board. He spearheaded nationwide efforts to discover incidents of Stolen Valor and prepared a “Friend of the Court” brief for submission to the Supreme Court in support of a finding that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was constitutional. In recognition of his community service, Tom was selected in 2005 for membership in the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame, one of only ninety-selectees since 1974. In June, 2009, he was named the California 75th State Assembly District Veteran of the Year. He also received the “Lifetime Support of Veterans Award” from the San Diego Veteran of the Year committee in 2009. He relocated from Southern California to Virginia Beach in 2012 and was appointed by Governor McDonnell in 2013 to the Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans.
An avid student, Tom earned both is baccalaureate and master’s degrees in history, and his masters of business administration, all from San Diego State University. While in Virginia Beach, Tom followed his passion for teaching history as an adjunct professor at Tidewater Community College.
Tom maintained a rigorous physical fitness regimen throughout his life, permitting him to engage in numerous outdoor activities including diving, kayaking, camping, and hiking. During the past eleven years he climbed California’s 14,497 ft. Mt. Whitney ten times.
Tom never quit anything that he set his mind on. He was a consummate advocate for veterans’ issues, was a devoted and dedicated husband, and was the best and sincerest friend a man could have. He was the epitome of a renaissance man who loved opera, fine art, classical and Celtic music, and world travel.
He is survived by his loving wife, Diane Hall Richards of Charlottesville, VA; cousins Linda Halverson and Laurie Lerhdahl and their extended families; aunt Theda and the late William Curwen and their extended family, his brother Marines; his friends and an extended honorary family too numerous to name, all of whom dearly loved, and were loved by, and will dearly miss their “uncle” Tom. Semper Fidelis!
