Richard Alan Nagel Jr.

September 21, 1932 - April 3, 2020

Richard Nagel 1932—2020 Richard (Dick) Nagel passed away on April 3, 2020, in Potomac Falls, VA. He was born on September 21,1932 in Buffalo, NY, to Richard and Charlotte Nagel.   Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force after high school and attended electronic maintenance school. He applied for pilot training and was accepted but the Korean War broke out and he was sent to Japan.     While stationed overseas, Dick met Betty (bornYukiko Goto) and the two fell in love and married in 1953. After returning to the States, Dick was discharged and reenlisted in the Air Force. He was commissioned in 1957 and in 1959 his dream of becoming a pilot became a reality. In 1966, Dick went to Vietnam and was a C-123 pilot with the 19th Air Commando Squadron. That year, he was hit by ground fire and was wounded but successfully crash-landed in friendly territory and without any fatalities. He was subsequently awarded the Air Force Cross for his heroism.   Dick was eventually promoted to Colonel and attended Armed Forces Staff College. He was stationed in the UK for four years before returning to the States and earning a BS degree at Troy State University. Other assignments followed, including the Pentagon, Vance AFB, SHAPE Headquarters and National Defense University. He retired in 1987 and became self-employed in software development.     Dick is survived by his loving wife, Betty, their son, Richard (Kate) and their two grandchildren, Jordan and Audrey.