Library of Congress Veterans History Project

Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at Headquarters, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, January 8, 2015.

Born at Fort Benning, GA in 1940, Richard P. Guthrie served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1991. In those 34 years he was assigned to Panama, Vietnam, Korea, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and various places in the United States. He was stationed at Fort Meade, MD, and Bamberg, Germany as an Artillery Battery Computer with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1965-1967, he served with the 8th Special Forces Group, Fort Gulick, Canal Zone in Panama. In 1967 he was the commander of Company B, First Battalion, 50th Infantry (Mechanized) and was stationed in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. In 1978-1980, he was the commander of the 2nd Battalion, and 34th Infantry at Fort Stewart, GA. In 1985-1987, he was the Chief of Allied Staff in Berlin, Germany. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" and Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. Decorated by the governments of France, Spain, Brazil, and Guatemala, Guthrie was authorized to wear parachute jump wings from the American, Guatemalan and French armies. He reached the rank of Colonel.