BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Recently retired from the North Dakota National Guard after serving in the military for more than three decades, Rick Rhone has had a long and winding journey that’s left him with a lifetime of memories. KX News sat down with Rhone to discuss his reflections after 38 years of service.
Rhone grew up in a family with several veterans — his father was a Marine, and one of his uncles told stories about his time in the Navy. These stories inspired Rhone to join the military, and he initially pursued the Marines before his father suggested he try the Army.
Upon joining in the 1980s, Rhone became a heavy wheel vehicle mechanic and was stationed in South Korea. He held several positions throughout his service, becoming a recovery operator and eventually a Warrant Officer. By the end of his service, Rhone had attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5.
Among his favorite memories is a summer of annual training that took place in the Marshall Islands, a small island country in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The training took place while Rhone was with the 957th Engineer Company of the North Dakota National Guard. While there, Rhone and his company helped build a medical clinic for the Marshallese people. He specifically remembers building the rafters after the foundation had been laid. The experience has something that Rhone said “felt good in the heart.”
For Rhone, military service was his way of giving back to his community, state, and country, and he is very proud to have done it. He was happy to return home to North Dakota and now runs the Capital City Restaurant Supply in Bismarck.
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