Who is Richard J. Stecker from Line of Fire and what is their importance?

Richard J. Stecker is a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He is twenty-two years old and a friend of Pick Pickering. His father was also a Marine and Dick grew up on Marine installations around the world. He is currently assigned to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola where he delivers Grumman Wildcats to different bases. He is a West Point graduate. He and Pick are assigned to the VMF-229 on Guadalcanal which allows Dick to see his father, Jack, who is also stationed on the island. Dick is seriously injured in a plane crash when landing on Henderson Island.