The Caledonia Education Foundation is pleased to honor Ret. Lt. Col. Richard Doezema USMC (Ret.) as its 2008 Honored Alumnus--for his commitment to community, his service to his country, and his leadership in the world, particularly in the fight against hunger.   

“Richard is an amazing man of character—a gentle presence yet full of resolve and firmness of purpose,” says Jill Harrison, Executive Director of the Foundation.  “He carries himself with humility, and yet you will find he is highly decorated and widely respected.  He has seen and done more in his lifetime, than most of us can imagine.  It is a pleasure to be honoring him.”  

While attending Caledonia High School as a junior in 1943, he was determined to serve his country. He was in class on February 24 and in the Marine Corps three days later, receiving boot camp training at San Diego, CA.
He received his Caledonia diploma six years later in 1949.  He remains active with his class that graduated in 1944.  He later went on to earn his BA in History and Political Science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. 

During World War II, Richard participated in campaigns at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and the occupation of Japan.  He later served 11 months in Korea during the Korean War.  His personal medals include: Navy Cross (2nd only to the Medal of Honor), the Bronze Star with Valor, Navy Commendation Medal, and two purple hearts (both in Korea).  He also holds the following campaign medals:  Asia/Pacific with 4 stars, Korean Theater with 6 stars, National Defense, Occupation of Japan, WWII Victory Medal, United Nations Korean Medal, and the Korean Government Medal.  Richard served for 22 years in the Marine Corps, finishing with a tour at headquarters USMC in Washington, DC. 

He retired from the Marine Corps and came home to Michigan in 1967 to become a farmer.  His farming experience led him to become the Sales Manager of Na-Churs Plant Food Co. serving Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Ontario, Canada.

In 1984, he retired to work full-time on World Hunger issues.  Working with Church World Services/CROP, Richard helped organize the very first hunger walks in Grand Rapids and Lowell.  He also traveled to Africa, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, India, and Bangladesh for the United Methodist Committee on Relief or CWS/CROP, inspecting what the World Hunger monies were accomplishing and also wanted to see what still needed to be done. 

Richard was married for 59 years to Barbara (Bobbie) Bates Doezema, also a Caledonia graduate, and they have 3 daughters, Robin, Sharon, and Dawn.  Bobbie died in 2005 and Richard is now married to Jamie Emerick-Doezema of Lansing, where they now reside.