Richard "Dick" Brossman was the son of Highlandlake (which no longer exists), Colorado residents, Charles N. Brossman and his first wife, Ethel Emely Eckman Brossman.

His parent's home, where he was raised, is now located in the Berthoud mailing address district, but is still in what is considered unincorporated Weld County, almost across from the Highlandlake Pioneer Cemetery on WCR 3

He was a 10th grader at Longmont High School when he dropped out and joined the Marines on 27 March 1944.