WWII veteran Richardson Tritt honored on 100th birthday

Surrounded by family members, friends and elected officials, World War II veteran Richardson C. Tritt celebrated his 100th birthday on Aug. 20 at his Dover home.

Later, he was recognized by members of his church in a drive-by salute.

Paul Davis, president of the Delaware Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, offered his thanks to Tritt for his years of wartime service between July 1942 and January 1945 when he served as a member of the Marine Corps Raiders, a special operations force that conducted amphibious light infantry warfare. They were said to have been the first Marine Corps special forces unit to see combat in WWII.

“I would do it all over again,” said Tritt.

Two legislative tributes to Tritt were presented, lauding his military service, and his years as a teacher and coach for men’s and women’s sports. He worked in Greenwood before moving to Smyrna where he served as a football coach and taught physical education for 35 years.

Rep. Bill Carson, D-Smyrna, noted that Tritt  had been one of his elementary school teachers.