IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN TEAM MATES, WHO WERE MEN OF VISION, DARING TO BE DIFFERENT. MEN WHO HAD CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES, TRUSTED THEIR COMRADES AND LEFT THEIR FATE TO GOD.

LTC Richard N. Chatham, 43, of Port St. Lucie, FL died Saturday, August 6, 2005 at Hospice of Martin & St. Lucie, Stuart, FL, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Mobile, AL and had been a resident of Port St. Lucie since 2001 coming from Winston, GA.

He was of the Methodist faith and graduated from the University of West Georgia attaining an MBA degree.

Richard was a teacher at Port St. Lucie High School and a Special Forces Officer who volunteered for mobilization after    9-11.  He had previously served with the 11th and 20th Special Forces Groups,  and was serving in the Command & Control branch of the J3 at USSOCOM at the time of his death.  He loved spending time with his family and was an avid fisherman and hunter.

Survivors include his wife of 10 years, his 2 daughters, his sister, Michelle Taylor of Stillwater, MN; his brother, Beau Chatham of Atlanta, GA; his mother, Janet Buchholz of Readlyn, IA; his father, Robert W. Chatham of Houston, TX; and his step-father, Bob Buchholz of Readlyn, IA.

A funeral service was held at Aycock Funeral Home in Jensen Beach, Florida  on 11 August 2005, with interment following at Rolling Oaks Cemetery in Port St. Lucie, with Timothy Willoughby, Chaplain US Army officiating. A memorial service was conducted at the MacDill Air Force Base Chapel in Tampa on 19 August 2005.  

Visitors from throughout the Special Operations Command were present to show their respect.  The family was honored and humbled by the outpouring of sympathy and compassion offered from the finest warriors on the face of the planet.

I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7