2023 -- H 5653

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LC001694

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR

RICHARD A. WINKELMAN

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Vella-
Wilkinson, Kennedy, Noret, Roberts, Serpa, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Command Sergeant Major Richard A. Winkelman was the devoted husband

of Rhonda Winkelman for twenty-nine years. He was born in the Bronx, New York, the son of

Richard Winkelman, Sr., and the late Kathleen Winkelman. He moved to Natick, Massachusetts,

at the age of eight, and graduated from Natick High School, where he was a standout athlete in

football, baseball and track; and

     WHEREAS, Always a deeply patriotic man, Mr. Winkelman joined the United States

Army through the ROTC program at Boston University, where he was a stellar student and

graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Shortly thereafter, he was

commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Winkelman served as a Platoon Leader with Company A., 483rd

Engineer Battalion, and as the Executive Officer for Company B, 368th Engineer Battalion. He

commanded the 468th Engineer Company for four years, finishing that tour with a deployment to

Bosnia in 1998; and

     WHEREAS, After fulfilling his military obligations, Mr. Winkelman began working, first

as an accountant for the Boston Ballet, and later as an accountant with the Forum Corporation in

Boston. In 2003, he joined the Rhode Island National Guard, as an enlisted soldier, joining the

43rd Military Police Brigade as an Intelligence Analyst; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Winkelman volunteered for deployment to Iraq with the 1-126th

Aviation Battalion in 2004, where he was deployed as the Senior Intelligence Analyst

Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) for the Battalion, flying 65 missions and over 300 hours as a

UH-60 door gunner. He deployed several more times with the 1-133rd Infantry Battalion in 2006-

2007, 1-126th Aviation Battalion in 2011-2012, and Company A, 2-245th Aviation Battalion in

2016-2017, serving his nation with bravery and honor; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Winkelman was promoted to the Rank of First Sergeant in March of

2017, and has held numerous assignments within the Rhode Island National Guard, including

serving as the Brigade Command Sergeant for the 56th Troop Command, where he was

responsible for more than 900 soldiers, until his passing; and

     WHEREAS, Command Sergeant Major Winkelman’s military education includes passing

the engineer officer basic course, intelligence analyst course, aviation operations specialist

course, signal support specialist course, small arms muster gun course, sling load inspector

certification course, battle staff course, airborne school, advanced leader and senior leader course,

and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy; and

     WHEREAS, Command Sergeant Major Winkelman received numerous awards and

honors throughout his distinguished military career including the Air Medal, the Meritorious

Service Medal with (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal with (4th Oak Leaf

Cluster), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Rhode Island Defense Service Medal, the

Rhode Island Service Medal, and the Rhode Island Emergency Service Medal, to name but a few;

and

     WHEREAS, In his free time, Command Sergeant Major Winkelman was an avid sports

fan who enjoyed cheering on his beloved Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. He also

enjoyed spending time by the ocean, especially on Cape Cod and in Westerly. He was a movie

and music buff who often wowed people with his ability to quote famous movie scenes or songs

upon request. Physical fitness was very important to him and he particularly enjoyed running and

frequenting the gym. He and his wife loved animals and through the years adopted many cats;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Winkelman always put his family and loved ones first in his life. In

addition to his wife, Rhonda, Command Sergeant Major Winkelman is survived by his father,

Richard Winkelman, and brothers John Winkelman and Patrick Winkelman. He also leaves

behind his nieces and nephews Zachary, Allison, Ryan and Shayne, his great-niece and nephew

Ava and Colt, his parents-in-law A. Blair and Janice Llewellyn, and his aunt MaryEllen

Winkelman. He also leaves behind countless friends, extended family members, and fellow

soldiers of the armed forces; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby expresses its deepest

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condolences on the passing of Command Sergeant Major Richard A. Winkelman; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Rhonda Winkelman.

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