Lawton's Richard D. Lake Joins Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame's 2026 Class

Sergeant First Class Richard D. Lake spent more than two decades walking the halls of Lawton Public Schools. Long before that, on May 2, 1967, he walked into a jungle river in Vietnam and pulled two drowning soldiers to safety. That act earned him the Soldier’s Medal, one of the highest honors a soldier can receive for valor outside of combat. He also came home with a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a Combat Infantryman Badge.

Lake was born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1930 and served in Korea and Europe before deploying to Vietnam with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He retired from Fort Sill in 1971, settled in Lawton, and worked for the school district for 23 years. He passed away on April 2, 2013.

This November, his name joins the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. The 27th Banquet and Induction Ceremony is set for Nov. 7 at the Embassy Suites in Norman, honoring Lake, 11 other service members, and the Oklahoma Dustoff and Medevac crews of the Vietnam War. Seating is $95 per person, and payment is due by Oct. 28. Did you know Richard Lake, or did a veteran in your family serve alongside him? We’d love to hear your story.