Richard served as a Private, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Windsor County, Vermont prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on January 19, 1943 in Rutland, Vermont. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in warehousing and also as Single, without dependents.

Richard was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German He 177A's. One of the He 177A piloted by Hans Dochtermann released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Richard was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 31253360

Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

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Richard served as a Private, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Windsor County, Vermont prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on January 19, 1943 in Rutland, Vermont. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in warehousing and also as Single, without dependents.

Richard was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German He 177A's. One of the He 177A piloted by Hans Dochtermann released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Richard was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 31253360

Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

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