Forgotten homeless veteran given full military rites

STAYTON – When Richard Laing died in a Eugene hospice August 22, the homeless man had no known family members or friends.

All anyone knew was he once served in the U.S. Navy.

Because of his service, dozens of veterans and those representing multiple military and veteran’s organizations filled Weddle Funeral Service in Stayton on Thursday morning.

None of the veterans in attendance knew the man.

“When there’s a homeless veteran, it brings a bigger crowd, just because of the heartfelt caring,” said Terry Brillon of Patriot Guard Riders, a group of military veterans who attend funerals of members of the U.S. military and first responders by invitation.

“We will sit in as his family.”

MORE:After injury in line of duty, military veteran Charlie Patrick makes a new start

A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study shows that 11 percent of homeless in the U.S. are military veterans.

Confirming that Laing was one of those veterans was a challenge.

Many records of people who served around the time Laing did were destroyed in a fire, a spokesperson from the Navy said.

But the confirmation arrived, and Laing was given a service with full military honors including an honor guard, a three-volley salute, the performing of Taps, and a proper burial.

“He volunteered to serve this country,” said Weddle Funeral Service co-owner Ryan Steele, an Army veteran. “It was a conscious decision that was made. He served and was honorably discharged. We know these two basic facts.”

A dozen motorcycles with United States flags lined the street in front of Weddle, and veterans in vests filled the hall for the memorial service.

Among the veteran’s organizations represented at the service were the United States Navy, American Legion Post 51, American Legion Riders, Old Guard Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wind Riders and Dream Veterans Motorcycle Association.

“We are his family today because we’ve all shared the same blood and the same mud,” said Neil Jumper Martinez of Dallas, who is part of the Old Guard Riders.

“No matter what we are, it could be Air Force, it could be Marines, whatever, we’re all brothers because we’ve all fought and sacrificed for our country.”

What those honoring Laing didn't know, was how long and hard a life he lived.

Richard Laing's life and military service

Laing was born February 29, 1940 in Los Angeles and enlisted in the Navy in 1957. He served through 1958 when he was honorably discharged in San Diego.

For the next 60 years Laing battled alcoholism and addiction, was in and out of jail, and lived for years in the Oregon State Hospital.

In interviews with the Statesman Journal while a patient at the Oregon State Hospital, Laing said he was arrested at the age of 18 for stealing a car and said he had a history of substance abuse while living in California.

He moved to Portland from Fresno, California in 1990, but rarely stayed in one location long.  

MORE:Voter appreciates work and personal ethics of Rep. Paul Evans

Laing was arrested in 2001 in Portland after battering his landlord’s face with a coffee mug during an alcohol-induced frenzy. He pled guilty and was committed to the Oregon State Hospital in February of 2002.

He became an outspoken critic of the hospital and took a legal case to the Oregon Supreme Court. The court ruled alcoholism and drug dependence alone shouldn't be grounds for mental illness; the court case helped create a new system for patient release. 

While he was supposed to be on a pass to Salem Public Library in 2005, he got on a bus and went to Portland.

He said he slept under bridges and made money selling newspapers and cashing in cans and bottles for refunds.

In October 2007 he was caught by police in Portland, pleaded guilty to escaping and served about 22 months in prison before being returned to Oregon State Hospital in Salem, where he was housed until at least 2012.

He eventually found his way to Eugene and lived on the streets, briefly living in adult foster care and hospice.

Being remembered as more than a homeless person

About a month ago, with Laing in ill health, a social worker at Serenity Hospice in Eugene started calling funeral homes asking if they would give Laing a funeral service.

The social worker worked her way through many of them until she found Weddle Funeral Service, which had no previous connection to him.

“It’s our duty and it’s an honor to take care of a veteran,” Steele said.

By Laing having been confirmed as a veteran, it allowed him to be buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

“Any veteran, as long, as he was discharged under non-dishonorable conditions, then every veteran is eligible,” said Tyler Francke, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Homeless or not, any veteran or active service member is entitled to burial at a national cemetery.”

These types of memorial ceremonies for homeless veterans have become more common.

Victor Morton of Independence was part of a ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery a few years ago for a transient person with no known family.

“I think two months or three months after he was put to rest up there, finally a family member back Midwest or something said, ‘Does anybody know where he is?’” said Morton, who is part of Patriot Guard Riders.

“It was like they had never looked for him before so they couldn’t put the two together. It turned out that they could have.”

MORE:Offensive struggles an issue for South Salem

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler