Richard Finkenbiner

First Sgt. Richard L. "Dick" Finkenbiner, U.S. Army, Retired, passed away, Sunday, March 25, 2012 at his residence in Waco. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 29, at OakCrest Funeral Home. Full military honors and burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 30, at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

Dick was born July 24, 1932 in Huntington, Indiana to Fred H. Finkenbiner and Esther Anderson Finkenbiner. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Ray and Elizabeth Anderson in Wabash, Indiana. Dick joined the United States Army in October 1949. After basic training at Fort Knox, he was assigned to the Air Defense Center in Fort Bliss. He served in Alaska, Korea, Germany and Vietnam. He served with the 26th AAA AW assigned to the 24th Infantry Division in Korea during the Korean War. He rose from Corporal to Sgt. 1st Class during the period and was a section chief of a half track section. Returning to Korea in 1966, Dick was the Intelligence Sgt. of the 38th Brigade station at Oson Air Force Base. While there, he was promoted to Master Sgt. Dick left Korea and he and his family were stationed in Darmstodt, Germany. After this tour of duty, Dick went to Vietnam in the fall of 1968, just in time for Tet. He was stationed at AN KHE in the central Highlands with the 4th Batallion 60th ADA AW SP a "Duster unit". Dick acted as the S2 for the Batallion due to a shortage of officers. During this period, he developed the VIP "CHIEU-HOI" program which purchased explosives, information and dropped leaflets to induce the VC to surrender. This was the most successful program of its type in Vietnam and Dick was awarded two Bronze star medals and an Air medal as well as several other awards and decorations. Dick ended his military career as 1st Sgt. of a Chaperal unit at Fort Riley after 22 years of service to his country. After his retirement, Dick was the Senior Army Instructor of JROTC in Wichita Falls for five years. During this period, his unit achieved "Honor Unit with Distinction". Dick formed a Bicentennial Color Guard in 1976. This student group was appointed as the State of Texas Bicentennial Color Guard and went to Calgary, Alberta Canada to represent the State of Texas at the 1976 Calgary Stampeed, presenting Honorary Citizenship awards to the President of Calgary and the Mayor of Calgary signed by Governor Dolph Brisco.

Soon after this, Dick moved to Waco where he went to work for Plantation Foods while continuing his education at MCC. He later became a police officer, first at Baylor University, then for the City of Robinson and lastly, for the City of Hewitt. In 1990, Dick was appointed Special Deputy U.S. Marshall Court Security Officer for the Waco Division of the Federal Court in the Western District of Texas, a position he held for 14 years. He was a life member of the VFW, DAV, Retired Enlisted Association, The Texas Police Association and a member of Waco Seniors Kiwanis Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and granddaughter, Kimberly Marie Finkenbiner.

Dick is survived by his wife, Mary Montgomery Finkenbiner; daughter, Tracey Finkenbiner Coleman and husband, Roger; sons, Richard R. Finkenbiner and Lee Finkenbiner and wife, Lisa; nine grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

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