He was the first commanding officer for the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam.
Colonel James Richard Lay’s life reflects the growing of America during the Twentieth Century beginning a few years following the “Great War”, World War I. His grassroots beginning as a young farm boy in a close-knit family helped him develop the enduring values that served him well in his long and distinguished military career. Spanning the remainder of the century into the Twenty-first, his diverse experiences encompassed farm life in the rural countryside, experiencing what it was like to see World War II as a teenaged high school student, and then, enduring the freezing weather and harsh combat of “The Forgotten War” in the Korean countryside. In 1965, as the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment “Red Warriors”, Colonel Lay led his troops to battle in Vietnam as that conflict unfolded.
Dick Lay was born in 1927 in Westminster, South Carolina, in a family of eight siblings. Growing up on his family’s farm, he graduated from Westminster High School in 1944 followed by graduation from Clemson University in 1948.
He began his distinguished military career as a Second Lieutenant in January 1949 and served through his retirement in 1974. His military duties took him all over the world including Turkey, Berlin Germany, Korea, and Vietnam as well as numerous stateside assignments. These included tours in the Pentagon, Forts Sheridan, Benning, Jackson, and Meade. His major assignments included command from platoon level to Brigade Commander. His numerous decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with star (representing combat in two wars), the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Joint Services and Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and various unit awards.
Following his retirement from military service, Colonel Lay worked for Oconee County, South Carolina, in the areas of Planning, Budget and Administration. Afterwards, he was the Executive Director, Anderson-Oconee County Council on Aging. He was active in the 1/12th Infantry Regiment Red Warriors Vietnam Association. He retired permanently in 1985 in Pickens, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Jean, enjoyed traveling, camping, and golf.
Colonel James Richard Lay’s life reflects the growing of America during the Twentieth Century beginning a few years following the “Great War”, World War I. His grassroots beginning as a young farm boy in a close-knit family helped him develop the enduring values that served him well in his long and distinguished military career. Spanning the remainder of the century into the Twenty-first, his diverse experiences encompassed farm life in the rural countryside, experiencing what it was like to see World War II as a teenaged high school student, and then, enduring the freezing weather and harsh combat of “The Forgotten War” in the Korean countryside. In 1965, as the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment “Red Warriors”, Colonel Lay led his troops to battle in Vietnam as that conflict unfolded.
Dick Lay was born in 1927 in Westminster, South Carolina, in a family of eight siblings. Growing up on his family’s farm, he graduated from Westminster High School in 1944 followed by graduation from Clemson University in 1948.
He began his distinguished military career as a Second Lieutenant in January 1949 and served through his retirement in 1974. His military duties took him all over the world including Turkey, Berlin Germany, Korea, and Vietnam as well as numerous stateside assignments. These included tours in the Pentagon, Forts Sheridan, Benning, Jackson, and Meade. His major assignments included command from platoon level to Brigade Commander. His numerous decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with star (representing combat in two wars), the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Joint Services and Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and various unit awards.
Following his retirement from military service, Colonel Lay worked for Oconee County, South Carolina, in the areas of Planning, Budget and Administration. Afterwards, he was the Executive Director, Anderson-Oconee County Council on Aging. He was active in the 1/12th Infantry Regiment Red Warriors Vietnam Association. He retired permanently in 1985 in Pickens, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Jean, enjoyed traveling, camping, and golf.
He was the first commanding officer for the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam.
Colonel James Richard Lay’s life reflects the growing of America during the Twentieth Century beginning a few years following the “Great War”, World War I. His grassroots beginning as a young farm boy in a close-knit family helped him develop the enduring values that served him well in his long and distinguished military career. Spanning the remainder of the century into the Twenty-first, his diverse experiences encompassed farm life in the rural countryside, experiencing what it was like to see World War II as a teenaged high school student, and then, enduring the freezing weather and harsh combat of “The Forgotten War” in the Korean countryside. In 1965, as the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment “Red Warriors”, Colonel Lay led his troops to battle in Vietnam as that conflict unfolded.
Dick Lay was born in 1927 in Westminster, South Carolina, in a family of eight siblings. Growing up on his family’s farm, he graduated from Westminster High School in 1944 followed by graduation from Clemson University in 1948.
He began his distinguished military career as a Second Lieutenant in January 1949 and served through his retirement in 1974. His military duties took him all over the world including Turkey, Berlin Germany, Korea, and Vietnam as well as numerous stateside assignments. These included tours in the Pentagon, Forts Sheridan, Benning, Jackson, and Meade. His major assignments included command from platoon level to Brigade Commander. His numerous decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with star (representing combat in two wars), the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Joint Services and Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and various unit awards.
Following his retirement from military service, Colonel Lay worked for Oconee County, South Carolina, in the areas of Planning, Budget and Administration. Afterwards, he was the Executive Director, Anderson-Oconee County Council on Aging. He was active in the 1/12th Infantry Regiment Red Warriors Vietnam Association. He retired permanently in 1985 in Pickens, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Jean, enjoyed traveling, camping, and golf.
Colonel James Richard Lay’s life reflects the growing of America during the Twentieth Century beginning a few years following the “Great War”, World War I. His grassroots beginning as a young farm boy in a close-knit family helped him develop the enduring values that served him well in his long and distinguished military career. Spanning the remainder of the century into the Twenty-first, his diverse experiences encompassed farm life in the rural countryside, experiencing what it was like to see World War II as a teenaged high school student, and then, enduring the freezing weather and harsh combat of “The Forgotten War” in the Korean countryside. In 1965, as the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment “Red Warriors”, Colonel Lay led his troops to battle in Vietnam as that conflict unfolded.
Dick Lay was born in 1927 in Westminster, South Carolina, in a family of eight siblings. Growing up on his family’s farm, he graduated from Westminster High School in 1944 followed by graduation from Clemson University in 1948.
He began his distinguished military career as a Second Lieutenant in January 1949 and served through his retirement in 1974. His military duties took him all over the world including Turkey, Berlin Germany, Korea, and Vietnam as well as numerous stateside assignments. These included tours in the Pentagon, Forts Sheridan, Benning, Jackson, and Meade. His major assignments included command from platoon level to Brigade Commander. His numerous decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with star (representing combat in two wars), the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Joint Services and Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and various unit awards.
Following his retirement from military service, Colonel Lay worked for Oconee County, South Carolina, in the areas of Planning, Budget and Administration. Afterwards, he was the Executive Director, Anderson-Oconee County Council on Aging. He was active in the 1/12th Infantry Regiment Red Warriors Vietnam Association. He retired permanently in 1985 in Pickens, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Jean, enjoyed traveling, camping, and golf.
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