Murch, Richard

USAR SIGC
1951 - 1956

Richard Harold Murch joined the United States Army on January 16th, 1951 when he was 21 years old. He attended boot camp at the Fort Ord training facility in Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California.

To prepare to serve in the Korean War, Richard trained to be a Signal Corps Operator. On November 2nd, 1951 he joined the 26th Signal Battalion, the U.S. Army unit recognized for providing critical communication infrastructure during the Korean War. Richard Murch was in charge of making sure communications between frontline units and their headquarters ran smoothly. He used systems such as VHF/microwave radio systems and telephone lines, but also relied on traditional methods of communication such as pigeons and wire-free transmission methods.

Richard Murch was awarded the United Nations Service Metal (UN Korean Service Medal), an international decoration awarded to military personnel who participated in the Korean War between June 27th, 1950, and July 27th, 1954. Along with the United Nations Service Metal, he was also awarded two service stars.

On January 24th, 1953 Richard was transferred from the Ready Reserve to the Army Reserve. Three years later, Richard was honorably discharged from the United States Army on August 27th, 1956. After returning home, Richard used his skills learned during his time as a Signal Corps Operator to install telephone lines to his home on Crosby Herold Rd., in Lincoln, California.