Fred Louis Richison was born Aug. 31, 1920 in Fresno County, California, to Emma Kolz Richison, a homemaker, Louis Mark Richison, a farm hand. Fred was the youngest of three children.

The father died in July 1930 in Fresno. By 1939 the mother and son Fred lived in San Jose. Fred completed 10th grade, first at San Jose Technical High School and then at Edison High School.

He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 7, 1939. Mr. Richison was a gunner’s mate and petty officer third class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

Mr. Richison’s brother, Francis D., served in the Navy from about 1943 to 1945.

Sources: California birth and death index; marriage license; Census; Navy enlistment records and muster rolls. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.