HAROLD P. RICHARDS, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Harold Richards '27

Date of birth: August 2, 1905

Date of death: May 14, 1936

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1927 Lucky Bag:

1927 Richards LB.jpg

Harold Peter Richards

Des Moines, Iowa

"HEY Pete, you had better bear a hand, only five minutes to go."

"Oh, that's all right, lots of time."

But he generally gets to his destination in time and especially never fails to be around when the food shows up. When he left Des Moines, Harold's mother was not certain that he would be capable of taking care of himself. Ask anyone at his table if he gets thin or ever comes out on the bottom of a rough and tumble exploit.

Good marks were not so easy for Pete to acquire during the first two years but it is almost a habit with him to stand well up in the class now and he is still improving. Keep it up, Pete. In addition to being a mainstay of the class football team, Pete is a wrestling protege for all weights over 1 38-pounds. And as a sea lawyer he is not far from excellent. Just try to best him in an argument when he is standing by his own convictions.

The next time you see him ask him, "Don't you think she is nice?", and he will immediately think that you know his girl. Common sense and practical ideas backed by a ready grin constitute his worldly wealth.

When the clouds are dark and life looks blue—Go to Pete—He'll give you a song and a cheer to make the sun comes through.

Baseball: A Squad (4, 3, 2) Navy Numerals (4, 3, 2); Boxing: A Squad (4, 3) Navy Numerals (4); Hop Committee: (1); Pep Committee: (2, 1).

1927 Richards LB.jpg

Harold Peter Richards

Des Moines, Iowa

"HEY Pete, you had better bear a hand, only five minutes to go."

"Oh, that's all right, lots of time."

But he generally gets to his destination in time and especially never fails to be around when the food shows up. When he left Des Moines, Harold's mother was not certain that he would be capable of taking care of himself. Ask anyone at his table if he gets thin or ever comes out on the bottom of a rough and tumble exploit.

Good marks were not so easy for Pete to acquire during the first two years but it is almost a habit with him to stand well up in the class now and he is still improving. Keep it up, Pete. In addition to being a mainstay of the class football team, Pete is a wrestling protege for all weights over 1 38-pounds. And as a sea lawyer he is not far from excellent. Just try to best him in an argument when he is standing by his own convictions.

The next time you see him ask him, "Don't you think she is nice?", and he will immediately think that you know his girl. Common sense and practical ideas backed by a ready grin constitute his worldly wealth.

When the clouds are dark and life looks blue—Go to Pete—He'll give you a song and a cheer to make the sun comes through.

Baseball: A Squad (4, 3, 2) Navy Numerals (4, 3, 2); Boxing: A Squad (4, 3) Navy Numerals (4); Hop Committee: (1); Pep Committee: (2, 1).

Loss

From Naval History and Heritage Command:

Lt (jg). Harold P. Richards killed when JF-1 amphibian struck Gamboa Bridge, Canal Zone, and quickly sank. 14 May 1936.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Harold's plane was struck by lightning as it was flying about 100 feet above the canal in a heavy rain. The pilot and storekeeper aboard escaped, along with the $20,000 naval payroll.

Harold was born in Wisconsin. He attended the Des Moines Catholic Academy (now Dowling Catholic High School.)

His wife was Miriam, and they had three children.

In 1910 his family lived in Belmont, Wisconsin. His father was Philip, mother Matilda, brothers Alvin and Clifford. His sisters were Zella (Mrs. William McManus of Chicago,) Aletha (Mrs. William Gannon of Bondurant, Iowa,) and Ethel.

Harold is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; he was survived by his parents and a sister.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.

July 1928
Ensign, USS Maryland

October 1928
Ensign, USS Maryland

January 1929
Ensign, USS Maryland

April 1929
Ensign, USS Maryland

July 1929
Ensign, USS Sloat
October 1929
Ensign, USS Sloat
January 1930
Ensign, USS Sloat
April 1930
Ensign, USS Upshur
October 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Upshur
January 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Upshur
April 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
July 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California
April 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California

Others at this command:
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force)
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force)
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force)
2LT Paul Moret '30 (Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force)
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
2LT Paul Moret '30 (Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force)
October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
1LT Lofton Henderson '26 (Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force)
2LT Paul Moret '30 (Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force)
April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station San Diego, California


Others at or embarked at this command:
1LT Lofton Henderson '26 (Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force)
2LT Paul Moret '30 (Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force)
July 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Oliver White '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Oliver White '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)
April 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)


Class of 1927

Harold is one of 43 members of the Class of 1927 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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