The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the July 2026 story of the month has been selected to honor the service of Vietnam War Veteran, Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa, U.S. Air Force, 6994th Security Squadron.The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa at the Military Reunion Network Summit held at Toledo Ohio in June of 2026.

One of the inspirations behind Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa's service was his uncle and namesake, Staff Sergeant Richard Rudolph Zettek, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Krejsa grew up hearing family stories about "Uncle Rich," a decorated B-24 ball-turret gunner with the 489th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division, Eighth Air Force, who earned two Air Medals before being killed in action on August 13, 1944, while flying from Halesworth, England. Those memories and his family's reverence for his uncle's sacrifice helped shape Krejsa's own sense of duty and ultimately influenced his decision to serve.

Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa answered his nation's call during one of the most challenging periods in American history. In 1966, after leaving college, he found himself at a crossroads. Realizing that leaving college would almost certainly lead to being drafted and sent to Vietnam, he jokingly said he "outsmarted them" by voluntarily enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in March 1966 instead. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and began a journey that would take him from training at Lackland Air Force Base to intelligence operations in the Philippines and eventually into the heart of the Vietnam War. 

Initially assigned to signals intelligence operations at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Krejsa monitored and copied Chinese Communist radar transmissions covering the Gulf of Tonkin, helping analysts track air operations over North Vietnam. After eighteen months, rather than returning stateside, he volunteered for Vietnam. He wanted to see firsthand what was happening and determine for himself whether America's involvement was justified. 

Assigned to the elite 6994th Security Squadron, Krejsa flew aboard unarmed EC-47 aircraft conducting airborne radio direction finding missions over South Vietnam and Cambodia. These missions were long, dangerous, and highly classified.

As a radio operator, he intercepted enemy Morse code transmissions, identified Viet Cong and North Vietnamese communications, and helped locate enemy positions that could then be relayed to forces on the ground & air. Over the course of his tour, he flew approximately 138 combat missions and earned multiple Air Medals, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

Yet Richard Krejsa's story is about far more than medals and missions.

The bond he formed with his fellow airmen became a lifelong commitment. The 6994th Security Squadron suffered the loss of 17 crew members between 1966 and 1974, a sacrifice that Krejsa has worked tirelessly to ensure is never forgotten. Through organizing more than fifteen squadron reunions, he has helped veterans, spouses, children, and grandchildren reconnect with the history, service, and sacrifices of those who served together. What began as reunions evolved into a family dedicated to preserving the memory of their squadron and honoring the 17 men who never came home. 

Krejsa has also continued serving veterans long after leaving active duty. He became deeply involved in veterans organizations, helped establish a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Tennessee, served in leadership roles, and regularly speaks to students, ensuring younger generations understand the realities of military service and the Vietnam War. 

Today, Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa stands as a testament to duty, courage, and remembrance.

His service in the skies over Vietnam helped protect American and allied forces, while his decades-long devotion to his squadron has ensured that the sacrifices of his fellow airmen, especially the 17 lost members of the 6994th Security Squadron, will never be forgotten.

His story reminds us that the legacy of service does not end when the uniform comes off. It continues through memory, fellowship, education, and an unwavering commitment to those who served alongside us. 

The United States Navy Memorial honors Staff Sergeant Richard Krejsa, U.S. Air Force 6994th Security Squadron, featured within this Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service

This interview was made possible through an ongoing collaborative effort with the Military Reunion Network to document, archive, and preserve the stories of our Veterans for current and future generations. To learn more about the work of the Military Reunion Network, visit: https://militaryreunionnetwork.com. This interview was conducted by Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program team member, Richard Sherman.