Jake's Reflections - Memorials to Richard Archer

The Wall, Washington, D.C.

A rubbing from panel 27-E line 8:

The paper on which these rubbings are done contain these inscriptions:

upper right:
	1959	IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR, THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND OF THOSE WHO REMAIN MISSING ARE INSCRIBED IN THE ORDER THEY WERE TAKEN FROM US

lower left:
OUR NATION HONORS THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY AND COUNTRY OF ITS VIETNAM VETERANS. THIS MEMORIAL WAS BUILT WITH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOVEMBER 11, 1982	1975

Town Of Barnstable Honors

Richard was honored by his home town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Memorial Day in 1968 when a square in Hyannis was dedicated to him.

Richard Archer Square, Hyannis

Dedication Ceremony, Memorial Day, 1968

The first Barnstable man killed in action in Vietnam Sept. 25, 1967, was Richard C. Archer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur D. Archer, brother of Curtis and Robert Archer, all of Hyannis, husband of Janet (Maclachlan) Archer, of Quincy, born August 27, 1944, a 1963 Barnstable High School graduate.

While attending BHS he was a member of the football, hockey and track team; he also helped on the yearbook staff that produced the Barnacle. After graduating from BHS he attended Cape Cod Community College. Archer was also an Eagle Scout. He enlisted in the Navy, Aug. 3. 1964, and received basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, and attended Navy schools in connection with the nuclear-power submarine program before being assigned to the Mansfield. He was married to Janet Maclachlan of Quincy.

Navy Machinist Mate 2.C. Archer, 23, was serving on the Navy Destroyer Mansfield off Vietnam. His ship was engaged in heavy shelling off the buffer zone between North and South Vietnam when Communist guns tore a hole in the ship's forward stack, fragments penetrated the engine room killing Richard and wounding two of his shipmates.

The marker is located at the fork of Pitcher's Way and Scudder Avenue. The bronze plaque on the boulder notes Richard C. Archer Square.

Anyone who would like to offer more information on this or any other marker in town is asked to call the Patriot office at 77l-1427. Information from Barnstable Patriot files.

Barnstable Patriot
used by permission

Richard's father, Arthur, was a Special Police Officer in the Town of Barnstable. Members of the Barnstable Police Department collected funds and commissioned a portrait of Richard by local artist Carl Bankston.

Shown to the right is a copy of this gift presented to the Arthur Archer family. Today, in the year 2000, it continues to hang over the mantle in the family home.

USS Mansfield Shipmates Honor

Fellow shipmates remembered Richard, the only sailor ever to be killed aboard the USS Mansfield, with a memorial service. Wanting to do something more, a collection was taken. Due to Richard's enjoyment of reading, the Hyannis Public Library was selected to be the recipient of a donation of over $800 in memory of Richard.

The USS Mansfield Far East Cruise book 1966 - 1968 was dedicated to Dick. A reproduction of the photo from the inside leaf is shown below with the dedication as written.


[	Jake's Reflections	\|	Richard Archer	\|	USS Mansfield	\|	Jake's Canteen	]

Memorials to Richard C. Archer

The Wall, Washington, D.C.

1959

1975

Town Of Barnstable Honors

Richard Archer Square, Hyannis

USS Mansfield Shipmates Honor

Memorials
to
Richard C. Archer