Plaque: MEADOWS MEMORIAL PARADE FIELD / IN MEMORY OF / MAJOR RICHARD J. MEADOWS / 16 JUNE 1931 – 29 JULY 1995 / DURING HIS LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, MAJOR MEADOWS EMBODIED ALL OF / THOSE QUALITIES THAT MARK THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN SPECIAL / OPERATIONS FORCES. MAJOR MEADOWS’ EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS / THROUGHOUT HIS DEDICATED SERVICE WITH ARMY SPECIAL FORCES AND RANGER UNITS / CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NATION’S SECURITY FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES. HIS SERVICE INCLUDED: COMBAT ACTION IN THE KOREAN WAR, CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS IN LAOS, / EXCHANGE DUTY AND TROOP COMMAND WITH THE BRITISH 22ND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE / EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS BEHIND ENEMY LINES DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, GROUND / ASSAULT COMMANDER DURING THE SON TAY RAID, RANGER TRAINING INSTRUCTOR, / COVERT OPERATOR IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION EAGLE CLAW IN IRAN, AND AS A KEY / MEMBER OF ELITE SPECIAL MISSION UNITS. FEW SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN AS WILLING TO / PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM’S WAY FOR THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. MAJOR MEADOWS / REPEATEDLY ANSWERED OUR COUNTRY’S CALL AND ALWAYS TOOK ON THE MOST / SENSITIVE ASSIGNMENTS. FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE NATION, MAJOR / MEADOWS WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, SILVER STAR (1 OLC), / LEGION OF MERIT, BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR, MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, AIR MEDAL, / JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL (2 OLC), AND / THE PRESIDENTIAL CITIZEN’S MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. / THIS STATUE AND ADJACENT PARADE FIELD WERE DEDICATED IN MAJOR MEADOWS’ / MEMORY ON 6 JUNE 1997.
Installation Date:
06 Jun 1997
Organization Responsible for Installation:
H. Ross Perot
Memorial War Era(s):
- Vietnam
- Other
- Korea
Memorial Condition:
Good
Website:
http://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/398
Location:
The statue is located in the southeast corner of the Meadows Memorial Parade Field, adjacent to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command headquarters on Yadkin Road in Fort Bragg, NC.