About
Richard William Rivenburgh, the son of Milton and Abbie (Bates) Rivenburgh, was born on July 14, 1953, in Schenectady, New York. Richard's mother, Abbie, was a Schenectady native who attended Nott Terrace High School. When Richard and his family moved to San Diego, California, is unknown.
On October 11, 1974, Richard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He held the rank of Private First Class. Richard went missing after the S.S. Mayaguez was captured by Khmer Rouge gunboats in the Gulf of Thailand, roughly 60 miles off the coast of Cambodia, in May 1975. The ship was transferred to Koh Tang Island, and on May 15, 1975, the Air Force dispatched 11 helicopters accompanied by troops to secure the island and rescue the Mayaguez crew. The helicopter carrying Richard was shot down as it approached the island, killing all 26 people on board. Half were rescued at sea, leaving 13 people unaccounted for. Richard was missing in action until positively identified in January 2012. Fragments of his remains were laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on August 6, 2012. In his last letter to his family he wrote "Don't get tired of waiting for me."
Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry