By Cathy Miller

Richard Pixley can be found most early mornings and evenings in the Washington Diner. For 17 years, Richard has enjoyed meals at “his” spot at the counter, his favorite dish being salmon or other fish.

It was there that he was suggested for person of the week. Says Vasileios Damanakis, Washington Diner’s manager for 14 years, “Richard Pixley is more than Person of the Week, he’s Person of the Year!”

That’s because the former Marine dedicates his life now to doing good, volunteering locally for several veterans’ groups, and other organizations, such as Toys for Tots (for 25 years), Project Horses for Forces, Gem Vets, and Purple Heart Foundation. Richard’s father and uncle both received Purple Hearts, he said.

In these endeavors, he works with business owners, he said: “I don’t call on anybody, I wouldn’t go door-to-door, I just go to the people in charge and work with them.”

Supporting veterans—and anyone else—is important to Richard.

“When people have a problem, they say ‘talk to Pixley,’” he said. “I’m not schooled in anything. I just do my best to help Marines with any issues they may have.”

Often, he ends up talking with perfect strangers.

For example, as we wrapped up our conversation, a gentleman sitting with his family across from us spoke up. He was a Marine too, 30 years after Richard Pixley’s service ended. Joe Neeley, a Mansfield resident, served from 1992-1996 with deployments in Mogadishu, Somalia, Haiti, Cuba, and the Adriatic Coast off Bosnia. The two veterans shook hands and immediately entered into an easy conversation.

Joe’s wife, Christine, explained, “Veterans will open up with each other, but not others. They feel comfortable sharing experiences with another vet.” With a bond unlike any other, they otherwise prefer not to discuss such things with non-military.

During their conversation, Richard admitted it’s always bothered him that with all his training, he never saw any combat. Joe reassured him, telling him to have no regrets. Before saying goodbye and making plans to see each other again, Richard thanked Joe for his service, and later recounted, “It ended up being a great night, talking with my brother Marine.”

Richard’s service in the Marines started in 1959 when he, at 17 years old, went off to boot camp at Parris Island.

From there, his experiences were varied. For two years, he was a security guard on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (which was decommissioned in 1974). He was trained and then he trained others, often on the rifle range. He even had one assignment where he got to meet Scott Carpenter, one of the Mercury 7 astronauts.

Richard earned the rank of Lance Corporal E-3, which focuses on learning new technical skills and developing followership and leadership abilities. E-3s use their experience to mentor and help other enlisted Marines take on more responsibilities. He also had a duty of care toward their welfare. With the knowledge Richard possessed, he was placed wherever he could be of most use, he said.

One other notable assignment was that he was sent to Cuba, to Guantanamo Bay, as a gunner on 105mm and 155mm Howitzers.

The one thing he never had to do? The Marine said ruefully, “I never had to fight.”

Richard spent four years in active duty, after which he joined his family in Warren County, where they had moved while he was away. Then he spent another two years on call.

It’s been a long journey since then. Richard has been in recovery for 30 years. For a couple years, he was an officer in New Jersey for the Marine Corps League and later an assistant chaplain with them, where he “more or less, took care of Marines’ problems.” 

In all he’s done, the same remains constant, though: “Anybody I can help, I help.”