Private First Class Richard Mead Golden was born 29 October 1928 in Brewer, Maine.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from Winchester, Massachusetts (his second enlistment).

PFC Golden was killed-in-action in Korea on 12 November 1950 and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on 15 February 1955.

PFC Golden was a member of the Heavy Machine-gun Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.  He participated in the assault and seizure of Inchon and the campaign to capture and secure Seoul, South Korea.  He was attached to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.  After the landing at Wonsan, the Company was set up in a defensive position at Majon-Ni, North Korea, where he was killed in action while adjusting the trip-wires of friendly anti-personnel mines on 12 November 1950.

PFC Golden was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (posthumously), the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal with two stars, the United Nations Service medal, the National Defense Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean War Service Medal.