Sergeant First Class Richard James Bastin was drafted into the Army in 1962. He reenlisted and reclassified from Infantry to Aviation. He served three tours in Vietnam and retired from active duty in 1982. Bastin was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997 and died in 2001. The VA determined that his lung cancer was caused by Agent Orange poisoning and ruled his death to be connected to his service in Vietnam.

Richard had a way about him that people either loved him or they hated him. Most of the ones that hated him in the beginning, loved him once they figured him out. Like a true career NCO, it was difficult to tell if he was joking or serious until the side of his mustache twitched to break a smile. He loved the Army and he loved this Country.