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| Bronze Star hero Sgt. Arnold Richardson served with the 4th Marine Division on Saipan. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26936977/arnold-ross-richardson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saipan |
Arnold was born July 10, 1919 in Salem, Massachusetts. His parents Ross and Florence were also born in Massachusetts. His father worked as a foreman in a dye works. Arnold had one older brother and one younger sister.
Arnold enlisted in the US Marine Corps in April 1938 and after completing basic training at Parris Island was posted as a guard at Portsmouth Naval Prison and the Boston Navy Yard. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Arnold requested a transfer to the Fleet Marine Force and served with the 4th Marine Raider Battalion under Lt. Col. James Roosevelt for several months, before being reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment. At some point he married his wife Lorraine.
The 24th Marine Regiment was activated at Camp Pendleton, California on 26 March 1943 and was attached to the newly created 4th Marine Division. The regiment sailed from San Diego in January 1944 for the enemy held Marshall Islands and took part in the seizure of Roi-Namur, twin islands in the Kwajalein Atoll. On 1 February, the regiment assaulted Namur and the island was completely wrested from the Japanese control by the following day. The 24th Marines re-embarked and sailed for Hawaii two days later to prepare for the invasion of the Mariana Islands.
Saipan was the regiment’s first objective in the Mariana Island Campaign. On 15 June 1944, T/Sgt. Richardson, serving as the acting First Sergeant of A Company, went ashore with the 24th Marines to join other Marine units from the 2nd Marine Division and 4th Marine Divisions. The Japanese stubbornly resisted the invading Americans. Sgt. Richardson was killed in action on 5 July, just 4 days before the island was declared secure, and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his actions. His citation reads in part:
“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.”
Arnold Ross Richardson was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan and was later reinterred in Oakdale Cemetery in Middleton, Massachusetts. His wife Lorraine C. Richardson joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve after his death and served until 1946. She remarried several years later.
Thank you Sgt. Richardson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Arnold.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero James Robinson of the 63rd Infantry Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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