Richards was born on February 13, 1930, in San Diego, California.
He graduated from Hampton High School, Virginia in 1948.

His military career began with the United States Army infantry in 1948.
He served as a platoon sergeant during the Korean War and was wounded twice.
He received a commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1956, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration.
Richards entered pilot training and earned his wings at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in 1957.
After combat crew training, he was assigned as a B-47 Stratojet co-pilot with the Strategic Air Command's 19th Bombardment Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, from December 1958 to February 1961.

He was upgraded to B-47E Stratojet commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, before being transferred, in July 1961, to the 301st Bombardment Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio.
He completed Squadron Officer School in 1963 and received B-52 Stratofortress combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, California, from May to August 1964.
His next assignments were to the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and later to Carswell Air Force Base, Texas.
During this period, he was an aircraft commander on the first B-52 combat missions over Vietnam.
Richards was born on February 13, 1930, in San Diego, California. He graduated from Hampton High School, Virginia in 1948.
His military career began with the United States Army infantry in 1948. He served as a platoon sergeant during the Korean War and was wounded twice. He received a commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1956, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration. Richards entered pilot training and earned his wings at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in 1957. After combat crew training, he was assigned as a B-47 Stratojet co-pilot with the Strategic Air Command's 19th Bombardment Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, from December 1958 to February 1961.
He was upgraded to B-47E Stratojet commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, before being transferred, in July 1961, to the 301st Bombardment Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1963 and received B-52 Stratofortress combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, California, from May to August 1964. His next assignments were to the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and later to Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. During this period, he was an aircraft commander on the first B-52 combat missions over Vietnam.
Thomas C. Richards