Dr. Richard Ellison
About Richard
Richard W. Ellison, COL (Ret.), served as a general surgeon for 23 years in the U.S. Army. He was a flight surgeon, combat scuba diver, and spent time in the Army’s burn unit (ISR), as well as working with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the 18th Airborne Corps, and as a Special Operations surgeon.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan kept Richard busy from 2003 to 2015, during which he completed six overseas deployments—three to Iraq and three to Afghanistan. He also served as the Joint Task Force surgeon in Haiti following the earthquake.
He medically retired at the rank of Colonel with numerous service awards, including the Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. He survived a 3,000 lb. vehicle-borne IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2012, which left him with chronic head pain and hearing damage.
After retiring from the Army, he continued working as a civilian, providing temporary surgical coverage at rural hospitals as a traveling surgeon.
Richard is survived by his wife, Kristi; his sons, Michael (and wife Annie), Kevin, and Travis; and his grandchildren, Camden and Delaney.
He was a lifelong fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves. He loved scary movies—but said he never found one that actually scared him.
Flag Location
Flag
Row A, Column 5
Sponsor
Kendra Phillips
VIGILINT (2025 Gold Sponsor)
Location
Honor Field B
