Richard James Ahern was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Gurley, Nebraska, to James Ahern, a farmer, and Sadie Penry Ahern, a homemaker. He was the oldest of five children and the only son.
The family moved to California after 1935, and Richard attended Van Nuys High School. The 1938 yearbook identified him as a sophomore.
He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 10, 1939, and was a fireman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
One sister, Margaret, attended nursing school during World War II and eventually joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. She achieved the rank of captain during the Korean War.
Sources: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California; Mercy College of Nursing in San Diego, California; 1942 Van Nuys High School yearbook; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
He Service Entry Date was Oct 5, 1939
He was received on the USS Arizona Dec 4, 1939
He was Promoted to Fireman 1st Class Nov 1, 1941 Nov 01, 1941, (Fireman 1st Class prior to 1943 was E-4.)
Listed as Missing in Action Dec 7, 1941 from the USS Arizona
Entombed in the Hull of the Arizona with his shipmates for eternity.
Contributor: Tom.Burgdorf 08/22/2016
The family moved to California after 1935, and Richard attended Van Nuys High School. The 1938 yearbook identified him as a sophomore.
He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 10, 1939, and was a fireman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
One sister, Margaret, attended nursing school during World War II and eventually joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. She achieved the rank of captain during the Korean War.
Sources: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California; Mercy College of Nursing in San Diego, California; 1942 Van Nuys High School yearbook; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
He Service Entry Date was Oct 5, 1939
He was received on the USS Arizona Dec 4, 1939
He was Promoted to Fireman 1st Class Nov 1, 1941 Nov 01, 1941, (Fireman 1st Class prior to 1943 was E-4.)
Listed as Missing in Action Dec 7, 1941 from the USS Arizona
Entombed in the Hull of the Arizona with his shipmates for eternity.
Contributor: Tom.Burgdorf 08/22/2016
Richard James Ahern was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Gurley, Nebraska, to James Ahern, a farmer, and Sadie Penry Ahern, a homemaker. He was the oldest of five children and the only son.
The family moved to California after 1935, and Richard attended Van Nuys High School. The 1938 yearbook identified him as a sophomore.
He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 10, 1939, and was a fireman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
One sister, Margaret, attended nursing school during World War II and eventually joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. She achieved the rank of captain during the Korean War.
Sources: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California; Mercy College of Nursing in San Diego, California; 1942 Van Nuys High School yearbook; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
He Service Entry Date was Oct 5, 1939
He was received on the USS Arizona Dec 4, 1939
He was Promoted to Fireman 1st Class Nov 1, 1941 Nov 01, 1941, (Fireman 1st Class prior to 1943 was E-4.)
Listed as Missing in Action Dec 7, 1941 from the USS Arizona
Entombed in the Hull of the Arizona with his shipmates for eternity.
Contributor: Tom.Burgdorf 08/22/2016
The family moved to California after 1935, and Richard attended Van Nuys High School. The 1938 yearbook identified him as a sophomore.
He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 10, 1939, and was a fireman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
One sister, Margaret, attended nursing school during World War II and eventually joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. She achieved the rank of captain during the Korean War.
Sources: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California; Mercy College of Nursing in San Diego, California; 1942 Van Nuys High School yearbook; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
He Service Entry Date was Oct 5, 1939
He was received on the USS Arizona Dec 4, 1939
He was Promoted to Fireman 1st Class Nov 1, 1941 Nov 01, 1941, (Fireman 1st Class prior to 1943 was E-4.)
Listed as Missing in Action Dec 7, 1941 from the USS Arizona
Entombed in the Hull of the Arizona with his shipmates for eternity.
Contributor: Tom.Burgdorf 08/22/2016
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