Riccardo Emilio Valente was born June 26, 1921 in San Jose, California. His mother, Anna Tapogna Valente, was a homemaker and his father, Ernesto Valente, a gardener at O’Connor Hospital. The parents had immigrated from Italy and had 13 children.

His birth name was Riccardo Emilio, but his father said that about age seven his son changed to Richard Domini Valente.

Richard attended Santa Clara High School from 1936-1937. He enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 9, 1938.

Mr. Valente 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.

At least one brother, John, also served in the Navy — from October 1942 through October 1945.

Sources: The San Francisco (California) Examiner; the Napa Valley (California) Register; the San Jose (California) Mercury News; Census; Navy enlistment records and muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.