Arnold Ross Richardson was born July 10, 1919, in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Ross Kendall Richardson and Florence Durkee.
Richardson entered the Marine Corps in 1938, training at Parris Island, South Carolina and being posted as a guard to Portsmouth Naval Prison and the Boston Navy Yard. Following the outbreak of World War II, Richardson requested a transfer to the Fleet Marine Force. He served with the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion under James Roosevelt for several months, before being reassigned to the staff of Camp Pendleton and thence to the First Battalion, 24th Marines.
Staff Sergeant Richardson served as a senior clerk with HQ/1/24 in the battle of Namur in early 1944, then received a promotion to Technical Sergeant and was reassigned to A/1/24. He made his second combat landing on Saipan on June 15, 1944, as the company's acting First Sergeant.
For twenty days, Richardson "fought aggressively throughout furious assault operations against the fanatically defended fire-swept beach of this strategic Japanese base and, executing his combat missions with skill and courage, materially assisted in the forward drive of our forces." Unfortunately, Richardson's bravery would be his undoing.
"Fearlessly volunteering on 5 July to proceed with a patrol one hundred and fifty yards forward of our front lines in an effort to rescue civilians trapped in a cave and pinned down by heavy Japanese rifle and machine-gun fire, he boldly advanced despite the enemy's unceasing barrage but was fatally struck down while carrying out his hazardous mission." He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Sergeant Richardson was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan. His wife, Lorraine C. Richardson, joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve later that year, and served until 1946.
Arnold Richardson's remains were returned to this cemetery at the request of his parents in 1948.
Richardson entered the Marine Corps in 1938, training at Parris Island, South Carolina and being posted as a guard to Portsmouth Naval Prison and the Boston Navy Yard. Following the outbreak of World War II, Richardson requested a transfer to the Fleet Marine Force. He served with the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion under James Roosevelt for several months, before being reassigned to the staff of Camp Pendleton and thence to the First Battalion, 24th Marines.
Staff Sergeant Richardson served as a senior clerk with HQ/1/24 in the battle of Namur in early 1944, then received a promotion to Technical Sergeant and was reassigned to A/1/24. He made his second combat landing on Saipan on June 15, 1944, as the company's acting First Sergeant.
For twenty days, Richardson "fought aggressively throughout furious assault operations against the fanatically defended fire-swept beach of this strategic Japanese base and, executing his combat missions with skill and courage, materially assisted in the forward drive of our forces." Unfortunately, Richardson's bravery would be his undoing.
"Fearlessly volunteering on 5 July to proceed with a patrol one hundred and fifty yards forward of our front lines in an effort to rescue civilians trapped in a cave and pinned down by heavy Japanese rifle and machine-gun fire, he boldly advanced despite the enemy's unceasing barrage but was fatally struck down while carrying out his hazardous mission." He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Sergeant Richardson was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan. His wife, Lorraine C. Richardson, joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve later that year, and served until 1946.
Arnold Richardson's remains were returned to this cemetery at the request of his parents in 1948.
Arnold Ross Richardson was born July 10, 1919, in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Ross Kendall Richardson and Florence Durkee.
Richardson entered the Marine Corps in 1938, training at Parris Island, South Carolina and being posted as a guard to Portsmouth Naval Prison and the Boston Navy Yard. Following the outbreak of World War II, Richardson requested a transfer to the Fleet Marine Force. He served with the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion under James Roosevelt for several months, before being reassigned to the staff of Camp Pendleton and thence to the First Battalion, 24th Marines.
Staff Sergeant Richardson served as a senior clerk with HQ/1/24 in the battle of Namur in early 1944, then received a promotion to Technical Sergeant and was reassigned to A/1/24. He made his second combat landing on Saipan on June 15, 1944, as the company's acting First Sergeant.
For twenty days, Richardson "fought aggressively throughout furious assault operations against the fanatically defended fire-swept beach of this strategic Japanese base and, executing his combat missions with skill and courage, materially assisted in the forward drive of our forces." Unfortunately, Richardson's bravery would be his undoing.
"Fearlessly volunteering on 5 July to proceed with a patrol one hundred and fifty yards forward of our front lines in an effort to rescue civilians trapped in a cave and pinned down by heavy Japanese rifle and machine-gun fire, he boldly advanced despite the enemy's unceasing barrage but was fatally struck down while carrying out his hazardous mission." He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Sergeant Richardson was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan. His wife, Lorraine C. Richardson, joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve later that year, and served until 1946.
Arnold Richardson's remains were returned to this cemetery at the request of his parents in 1948.
Richardson entered the Marine Corps in 1938, training at Parris Island, South Carolina and being posted as a guard to Portsmouth Naval Prison and the Boston Navy Yard. Following the outbreak of World War II, Richardson requested a transfer to the Fleet Marine Force. He served with the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion under James Roosevelt for several months, before being reassigned to the staff of Camp Pendleton and thence to the First Battalion, 24th Marines.
Staff Sergeant Richardson served as a senior clerk with HQ/1/24 in the battle of Namur in early 1944, then received a promotion to Technical Sergeant and was reassigned to A/1/24. He made his second combat landing on Saipan on June 15, 1944, as the company's acting First Sergeant.
For twenty days, Richardson "fought aggressively throughout furious assault operations against the fanatically defended fire-swept beach of this strategic Japanese base and, executing his combat missions with skill and courage, materially assisted in the forward drive of our forces." Unfortunately, Richardson's bravery would be his undoing.
"Fearlessly volunteering on 5 July to proceed with a patrol one hundred and fifty yards forward of our front lines in an effort to rescue civilians trapped in a cave and pinned down by heavy Japanese rifle and machine-gun fire, he boldly advanced despite the enemy's unceasing barrage but was fatally struck down while carrying out his hazardous mission." He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Sergeant Richardson was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan. His wife, Lorraine C. Richardson, joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve later that year, and served until 1946.
Arnold Richardson's remains were returned to this cemetery at the request of his parents in 1948.
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