Richard J. Gannon was born May 30, 1972 in Allentown, Pennsylvania and moved to Escondido, California with his family at the age of four. He is the son of Richard and Tess Gannon. As a youth, he began running marathons at the age of nine and he was an Eagle Scout by the time he graduated from Escondido High School in 1991. He received a full NROTC scholarship to Cornell University and began college in the fall of 1991 to pursue a commission in the Marine Corps like his father who served as a Marine Corps Captain in Vietnam.
 At Cornell, Rick’s world centered around two brotherhoods: Naval ROTC and Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Everyone who knew Rick at Cornell appreciated his strong sense of being part of something larger than himself. Rick gave to both brotherhoods far more than he took, and was respected and loved as both a strong leader and a mischievous instigator. Through difficult proving grounds such as Marine Corps Officer Candidate School or Phi Sig’s New Brotherhood Membership Program, Rick accepted challenges with enthusiasm and quiet determination. His strength was an inspiration to his brothers and comrades.
Rick graduated with honors a semester early with a double major in Government and History. Two of the happiest days of his life followed in quick succession – his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on January 13, 1995 and his marriage to Sally Wilkins, also of Escondido, the following day.
Rick completed The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia the same year. After TBS he attended the Infantry Officer Course (IOC) and then was assigned to Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment. Rick lead a rifle platoon for several months before taking over as Weapons Platoon Commander, and deploying with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from March until September 1997. Rick deployed a second time as the Executive Officer of Weapons Company – this time with the 13th MEU from December 1998 until June 1999.
During his second deployment, he received orders to the U.S. Naval Academy to attend the highly selective Navy Leadership Education and Human Resources Development (LEAD) program. Upon completion of his Masters degree, he became the 13th Company Officer. While at the Naval Academy, Rick was involved in a myriad of activities that included the Officer Representative for the women’s cross-country team, key note speaker for the Marine Corps Career Information Program, instructor for the Marine Junior Officer Practicum Course, mentor in the Semper Fi Club, and he was even the Scout Master for his son Rick’s Cub Scout pack.
In the spring of 2002 Rick was assigned to 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 29 Palms, California. In January 2003, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Service Company. His unit was heavily involved during the long invasion to Baghdad and then subsequently settled in Karbala to conduct stability and security operations. In May, shortly after arriving in Karbala, Rick took over as the Commanding Officer  of Lima Company. As the Commanding Officer of Lima he was instrumental in providing security to the people of Karbala and fostering good relations with the local population. In September he returned home to his family, but five months later he redeployed to Iraq, again as the Lima Commanding Officer.
Lima Company was assigned to the city of Husaybah on the Syrian border in the Al Anbar province of western Iraq. Rick along with two hundred fifty Marines from Lima Company immediately began fighting insurgents who conducted daily mortar attacks, detonated roadside bombs, and engaged in ambushes against the Marines. On April 17, 2004 Rick was killed while giving aid to one of his wounded Marines, along with four other Lima Company Marines after they were ambushed in Husaybah. This ambush was the beginning of a fourteen-hour battle against an estimated three hundred insurgents. Rick Gannon was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for bravery and gallantry in battle. He was also promoted to Major. Rick is survived by his wife Sally and their four children; Richard J. Gannon III, Patrick, Connor, and Maria.
 Rick was first and foremost a caring father and a devoted husband. His love for his family was evident to all who came in contact with them. To see him around his children was to see overflowing affection and love. Rick also never held back his affection for his wife Sally. Family times, especially Friday Pizza Nights, were sacred to him.
He was full of life and humor, and when he opened up he had the biggest smile and laugh that would make you want to stay a little longer. Rick loved life and valued the camaraderie of his family, friends, fraternity brothers and fellow Marines. Whether it was an informal gathering, fraternity social event, mess night, or Marine Corps Ball, all of us have had our share of memories of toasting a Budweiser with Rick.
Rick was an inspirational leader for both his Marines and peers alike. Having run multiple marathons since he was a child, he was mentally and physically tough. Rick was respectfully referred to by his Marines as being as “tough as a $2 steak.” He always put his Marines ahead of his welfare and he was hell-bent on training them the way they would fight. Rick was a just leader, and often chose creative ways to instruct his Marines when they made mistakes. In combat, Rick relied on his Marines, and gave them the autonomy to act independently.
Rick demonstrated courage and selfless devotion in the face of fire on April 17, 2004. Rick’s leadership and personal example undoubtedly inspired the Marines of Lima 3/7 and remains with them today. The active camp formerly commanded by Rick in Husaybah is named in his honor as Camp Gannon.
Rick left behind a legacy that has touched each and every one of us in different ways. Whether from the fields of Escondido High, the kitchen of Gamma House, the hills of Camp Horno, the hallowed halls of the Naval Academy, the rock-swept desert of Twentynine Palms, or the streets of Husaybah, Iraq, Rick has impacted our lives. We are friends, family, brothers and fellow Marines and we will never forget him. |
