The Brunswick Naval Museum held a street-naming dedication ceremony for Admiral Harry Rich Drive on Wednesday, December 18th. The Admiral, a 92-year-old native Mainer, attended the ceremony and spoke briefly, thanking everyone for attending and for the honor.
John Briley, President of the Museum, spoke as did MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque.
Admiral Harry Rich Drive, formerly known as Anchor Drive, is the second road on the left after entering Brunswick Landing. It connects to Neptune Drive and the housing areas.
Admiral Rich’s bio:
Harold (Harry) G. Rich
- Rear Admiral, US Navy (retired)
- Born in Searsport, Maine on January 2, 1926. Attended public schools in Searsport and Union, Maine. Graduated high school in 1943.
- Joined the Navy eight days after graduation, and was sent to Dartmouth College as an Apprentice Seaman. After flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned an Ensign in June 1946.
- Flew 127 missions in the Berlin Airlift as part of his first assignment.
- In 1956 was assigned to Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) at NAS Brunswick where he flew the P2V–7 for two years.
- Sea duty was as Ordinance Officer on the USS Intrepid with deployments in the Med and the Caribbean. Served aboard the USS Wasp as Operations Officer for 18 months.
- Returned to Brunswick as Chief Staff Officer of the Fleet Air Wing for two years and a brief stint as XO/CO of Brunswick Naval Air Station.
- Second command tour was as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station Bermuda. While in Bermuda, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and for the third time returned to Brunswick as Commander Fleet Air Wings Atlantic Fleet.
- Last operational tour was Commander Iceland Defense Force of Keflavik,Iceland.
- Retired May 1, 1978 after 35 years of active service and moved to Harpswell, Maine where he presently resides.
