The Patriot Guard has been invited by the family of Richard C. Moeller, 81, a Vietnam Vet who served in the US Air Force, to pay Honors to this American Hero. It will be our privilege to do so.
Richard was born on January 26, 1942, in Easton PA, to Karl and Maria Moeller. Richard passed on December 5, 2023 at the age of 81 in Napa, CA.
Growing up in Easton and spending a lot of time in the Poconos and on the Delaware river, Richard was known for his passion around motor sports and skiing on both snow and water.
A bit of a daredevil, Richard (AKA Dick) was on the rowdy side, always pushing his limits which ultimately drove him to join the US Air Force at age 17 after graduating Wilson High School.
In the service, Richard had a successful career and was well respected earning several decorations as a Corporal, Airman 1st Class.
Richard enlisted in 1959 and served until his honorary discharge in 1963. He flew B52's with the 26th Bombardment Squadron now known as the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron.
As part of the Strategic Air Command, he was primarily based in Colorado and Oklahoma but flew missions around the world. Richard flew combat duty early in the during the Vietnam conflict. He took his duty and commitment seriously and was proud to be an Air Force Veteran.
After the service, Richard went to school studying aeronautical engineering at New York University and did some racing. He settled in the Chicago area where he married Joy (Kamin) Moeller the love of his life in 1965. They had two boys – Marc and Bryan. After a bitter winter storm in 1977, they relocated to Solana Beach near San Diego, CA. Joy and Richard divorced in 1980 and Richard never remarried. In 1981 he relocated Santa Cruz and remained in the San Francisco Bay area until his death.
Richard worked in several trades related to the business he learned as a child in industrial meat processing equipment. With an aeronautical engineering background, he was a wizard at anything mechanical. Richard excelled in his career working for Hollymatic, Berkel, and the Dupont Corporation where he was a regional executive, but management and the corporate life wasn’t a good fit for him. His love of driving led him to a career in long-haul truck driving for over 10 years. He worked for
several companies including Legacy, Locatelli and Allied specializing in transporting security-sensitive high-tech equipment for Cisco Systems, pro racing teams, and various healthcare and defense contractors.
He enjoyed being on the road, the responsibility of the mission, the beauty of our country and the freedom he felt while driving.
After retiring from driving, he worked several jobs within the VA system in counseling, worked as an orderly and managed the auto shop at the Veterans Home in Napa
Valley. He loved his work helping others and had a great need to be around people.
Having a great passion for classic cars and motorcycles, he built and restored many dozen vehicles over the years favoring old pickups in his later years. He especially loved resurrecting barn finds with his son Bryan and was thrilled to deliver a restored Fiat Spider to his son Marc for his 16th birthday.
Richard always loved anything with wheels, sails or a motor. From racing boats, stock cars and flat track motorcycles to crewing for professional stock car and pro-modified drag racing teams including Hagerty Motorsports.
Richard even raced with Mario Andretti in his younger years at Pocono Raceway. His racing days ended in his late 60’s after laying down his hot rod Harley FXR flat-tracking a private course on the Treasure Island military base near San Francisco.
Another joy he pursued was his love of sailing on Lake Michigan, and off the coast of San Diego. His happiest days were during winter storms with small craft warnings being out on the water pushing his boat to the limit.
Richard was a fearless, prideful and respected man. He didn’t care what others thought, would speak his mind, and stand up to anyone. He also had a very gentle, loving side, and had a playful sense of humor up until his last days. He was a tall, handsome, graceful gentleman who was comfortable in any crowd.
Richard liked the finer things, great meals, art, and antiques, but was never afraid to roll up his sleeves, work hard, play hard, and get dirty. He was an artist with
metal fabrication which included jewelry design and stained-glass work.
Richard worked in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, & Treasure Island, and eventually became a long-term resident at the beautiful Veterans Home in Yountville, CA in retirement.
Richard is survived by his ex-wife Joy Moeller, his two sons Marc and Bryan Moeller, and his four grandchildren August, Nico, Ava and Jack Moeller.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and the family from the home to the cemetery. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
TIMETABLE FOR FRIDAY, 26 JANUARY 20241045 - Meet up for ride together at Good Guys #2, 12801 Bellflower Blvd., Downey, CA 90242 (Eat before heading into LA/ then ride up together)
(105 Fwy & Bellflower Blvd.)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3V1WUJSDRR4GCReU71130 - Mission briefing
1145 - KSU to pick up Hero and his family at family residence (address to be provided during mission briefing)
1245 - Stage and flag line as Hero is brought out to awaiting vehicle
1300 - KSU to Los Angeles National Cemetery, 950 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cQwPpTYgqwdjXeZu71330 - ETA at Los Angeles National Cemetery
1345 - Flag line as our Hero is taken into Bob Hope Memorial Chapel at Los Angeles National Cemetery
1400 - Services for our Hero begin
RC Mike "Joker" Courtright
SoCal / PGR Ride Captainmokynanapo@sbcglobal.net
714-321-3356
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the Ride Captain (RC). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe the 15 MPH speed limit. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
