Father Richard F. Munsell

Chaplain (Capt.) Richard F. Munsell is the installation staff chaplain.He is from the 20th Combat Support Group at RAF Upper Heyford, England, and a Seattle native.Father Munsell said the commander supported all chapel programs."He led us by example.Not only did he support our programs, but he also led our Mormon services.I couldn't ask for anything better," he said.

Article -Seafair Pirate Tales - Dick MunsellHistory as told by Dick Munsell

The Seattle Seafair Pirates Official Web Site - Pirate Kings of the Northwest since 1949 It's a high-humored heist by the Seattle SEAFAIR Pirates. The salty troupe's shenanigans and formidable float , the Duck , have become synonymous with SEAFAIR revelry. The Pirates , originally members of the Washington State Press Club's Ale & ; Quail Society , banded together in 1949 to promote Seattle and Seafair while having fun and serving the community. Despite their bad-guy image , the Pirates make dozens of appearances annually to hospitals and nursing homes. During the height of Seattle's SEAFAIR Celebration , they appear at several events and parades each day. The 40+ Pirates are an elite troupe who carefully selects their members based on their ability to mix well with the public and for their unique musical or theatrical talents.Seafair Pirates are available for your Event.Contact our Liaison Officer.

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Seafair Pirate history as told by Dick Munsell

Grubb and I have conflicting data on when I joined.I thought it was 1964 , but I guess it was 1965.I got the idea to join about six or seven years before that.I was over at Lake Washington watching the races and lo and behold here comes this group of what looked like really outstanding citizens.Just pretending that they were ne'er do wells.

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1978 was a terrific year , That was the year of the Richard , when I was captain , The tall ships were terrific , Going to the Portland Rose Parade on the train was fun.Going to Spokane for the Lilac Festival ; Wenatchee for the Apple Blossom Festival.

1966 was the most fun , and it was also the start of all sorts of BS.We stayed at the Park Haviland in Portland.And while we were there , some high school students started a fire in the closet , and four of us saved thousands and thousands of lives.That was fun.

It is hard to isolate one thing.
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By Dick Munsell

Richard Munsell.
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"When I entered the military," Munsell, who became Sheppard Air Force Base's Catholic Wing chaplain last year, "I got it.
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Munsell became head of the Sheppard Air Force Base's Chaplain Service Division in July 2006, a division that serves the 82nd Training Wing, the Air Force's largest and most diversified Air Education and Training Command center.

The chaplain's role includes promoting the free exercise of religion for some 80,000 students annually assigned to Sheppard's AETC, as well as its 4,646 permanent-party military.His group provides also for the 80th Flying Training Wing, the official Air Force designation for the EuroNATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.ENJJPT is the world's only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program chartered to produce combat pilots for NATO.

With his duties integrated with base leadership, Munsell is a wing commander staff member, advising the commander on religious issues and on the base community's spiritual health and morale.

"Chaplain Rich Munsell is invaluable to our mission here at Sheppard," said Brig.Gen.
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Munsell conveys a congenial, warm manner and precise, orderly communication style, but he is quick to clarify his pastoral ministry come first, as noted by his title, "Chaplain, Colonel."

"Being in this ministry is a wonderful opportunity to enter into people's lives from baptism to death, from their 'highest highs' and their 'lowest lows,' " Munsell said.

He elaborates that these "lows" sometimes include being part of a team - comprised also of a commander and a medical officer - charged with notifying family members that their enlisted loved one has been wounded or killed or that his/her status is unknown.

One recent case involved the death of Major Troy Gilbert, who had Wichita Falls ties.Gilbert was killed Nov. 27, 2006, when his F-16 fighter crashed near Baghdad, Iraq.His father, a retired Air Force noncommissioned officer, is employed at Sheppard.

Munsell believes his division is the Air Force's third-largest chaplain community, with the senior chaplain overseeing a chapel staff of 10 chaplains, five chaplain reservists and nine chaplain assistants who have a solid, interfaith approach in representing multiple world religions, several different Christian denominations and one nondenominational congregation.

As Munsell approaches 22 years this March for work in military chaplaincy, a background review confirms he has the seasoned skills and experience attuned to the vocation he heartily has welcomed.

The Sheridan, Wyo., native was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in June 1979.From 1979 to 1984, Munsell served as a parochial vicar for the Diocese of Great FallsBillings, Mont. Although he was offered a pastorship in a desirable rural location, he sought a transfer from diocesan ministry into military chaplaincy to better ensure the plethora of experiences he was seeking.

In March 1985, Munsell received a direct commission as a first lieutenant and reported for chaplain duty at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Neb. Continuing assignments interspersed with pertinent education and training upgrades, included various senior Catholic chaplain and wing chaplain positions.

Along with time in America, England and Korea, the chaplain served in the Persian Gulf five times, including in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and twice in Saudi Arabia.Before coming to Sheppard, his last office assignment was division chief for Personnel Requirements and Resources, Office of the Command Chaplain, AETC headquarters, at Randolph AFB in San Antonio.

His biography lists 17 major awards and decorations, including Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.

Although Munsell said he is unsure of how long he will be stationed at Sheppard, "Home is where the Air Force sends you."

Richard F. MunsellChaplain, USAF