Thomas Richard Potts was born on November 20, 1915, in Shelton, Mason County, Washington. He was the son of Frank and Bernice Potts. Thomas Richard Potts, also known by his stage name Richard Fiske, was a Hollywood actor who enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 1942 after establishing a promising career in film. He was best known for his role as Sergeant Drill in Boobs in Arms (1940), a comedy short with The Three Stooges. Fiske appeared in numerous action serials and films during the late 1930s and early 1940s, frequently playing tough-guy or military roles.

After joining the Army, Potts served in the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division, which took part in the Normandy invasion following D-Day. He participated in key battles, including the battles of Saint-Lô and Vire, two crucial confrontations in the Allied push to break through German lines in Normandy. These engagements were part of the broader Operation Cobra, aimed at liberating occupied France. Potts was Killed in Action on August 10, 1944, when his military vehicle was destroyed by fire during combat near LeCroix, France. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart. 1Lt Potts is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery in Saint-James, France, where a plaque commemorates his service and contributions both as a soldier and an actor.