Ret. Col. Richard Combs has served as chairman of Veterans Committee since 2008, which means this year marks his 15th year in that position.
Combs is the third and longest-serving chairman of the committee that was formed in 2001 to honor Jones County’s veterans.
Combs moved to Jones County in 2005 to be close to family and became chairman of the committee in 2008. He served in the military for 26 years and is devoted to making all who served in the armed forces feel appreciated.
The chairman and his wife Dorothy, who is from Moultrie, have two children.
Combs spent his military career in the Marine Corps. He was born in Oklahoma and is the son of a career military man. His father served in the Air Force and his childhood was spent moving every four years.
After graduating from high school, Combs enrolled in the University of Florida. He enlisted in the Marine Corps while in college and served six months active duty. He then went back to college and finished his degrees.
He worked in the private sector for a year and decided it was not for him. He went active with the reserves again and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
Combs said he had a different career than most in the military. He served as a combat infantry platoon commander in Vietnam in 1969 and subsequent assignments included ceremonial duty in Washington D.C.; infantry company commander; training recruits at Parris Island; staff duty at Marine Corps headquarters; instructor at amphibious warfare school; liaison to U.S. Congress; and comptroller.
Combs said his career culminated as executive assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps during Desert Storm. He retired at the rank of colonel in 1991. His decorations include two Legions of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star.
The chairman is matter of fact about his numerous awards. He said he had a great career and feels like God took care of him and put him where he wanted him to be.
That seems to include his move to Jones County.
In a 2021 interview about the history of Veterans Appreciation Day, Combs said the way Jones County supports its veterans has been a highlight for him.
He noted some of themes of the past events, “Celebrating our Men and Women Veterans,” “Citizen Soldiers - America’s Strength” and “Heroes Who Walk Among Us.” He said those themes give a picture of the way the county recognizes and appreciates its veterans.
Combs said the Veterans 5K race was added in 2013, and the committee’s first chairman, Col. Allen Carr, was a big part of that effort.
He noted the importance of the race, which provides money to support the event. He said the addition of the Jones County Cruisers Car Show in 2014 has also benefited the event and attracted a broader audience.
The chairman added that the Cruisers always make a generous donation to the Veterans Committee to help pay expenses.
Combs said the 2020 event took place while COVID was in full bloom. He said the committee decided the Appreciation Day needed to take place but knew it could not be indoors. The decision was made to move it outdoors.
Combs said that event was so successful, it has been held outside since then. He recalled that the Chaptacular event was cancelled in 2020, which meant no carvings for the veterans. That was when veteran Roger Hawke stepped up and made framed wooden flags for all veterans who attended the event.
Hawke has continued to make patriotic carvings for veterans each year.
Combs said he could not name all the organizations that have supported the annual event because there are so many.
The chairman pointed out that Veterans Appreciation Day has made its mark in the community by such things as the naming of the street in front of the W.E. Knox Civic Center, Veterans Walk, and the renaming of the North Gray Bypass to Veterans Memorial Parkway.
He added that it took a while but there is a flag box for the disposal of worn American flags located in front of the civic center.
Combs said it is amazing how the Jones County community always steps up. He said the Jones County Sheriff’s Office had always provided the color guard for the program, but when they were not able to be there, the Jones County High School JROTC took over.
