Iliff David Richardson
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Iliff David "Rich" Richardson (April 9, 1918 – October 10, 2001) was simultaneously a
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...
and a
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...
while fighting with the
Philippine resistance against Japan During the Japanese occupation of the islands in World War II, there was an extensive Philippine resistance movement (), which opposed the Japanese and their collaborators with active underground and guerrilla activity that increased over the ...
during World War II. He recounted his exploits to author Ira Wolfert, who published them in the book ''American Guerrilla in the Philippines'' in 1945. A character based on Richardson was played by
Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...
in the 1950 film of the same name.


Biography


Early life

Richardson was the only surviving child of Methodist Minister Royal Richardson, who died when Iliff was three years old. His mother Velma Weston Richardson taught Latin and music and raised Iliff in a variety of Colorado towns and her father's Nebraska ranch, located northwest of Springview, Nebraska. After his death, the Richardsons went to live in Los Angeles. Iliff studied at
Compton Junior College Compton College is a public community college in Compton, California. From 2006, when it lost its regional accreditation, to 2017, when it regained that accreditation, it operated as a part of El Camino College. Before and after the partnership ...
, then travelled through Europe, the Near and Middle East, returning to the US before the
fall of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Net ...
in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.


Wartime career

In 1940, he was commissioned an
ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...
in the
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
and was posted to USS ''Bittern'', a
minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...
in the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
.Wolfert, I., 1945, American Guerrilla in the Philippines, New York: Simon and Schuster He later transferred to
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three (MTBRon 3) was a United States Navy squadron based at Naval Base Cavite, Cavite, Philippines, from September 1941 to December 1941. It was commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley and made up of six motor torpe ...
, commanded by
John D. Bulkeley John Duncan Bulkeley (19 August 1911 – 6 April 1996) was a Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy and was one of its most decorated naval officers. Bulkeley received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Pacific ...
. Richardson was the executive officer of '' PT 34'', under Bob Kelly. PT-34 and PT-41 attacked the Japanese cruiser ''Kuma'' one night and then separated, PT-34 making its way back to
Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...
, where it was
strafed Strafing is the military practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. Less commonly, the term is used by extension to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft such a ...
by Japanese planes, setting it on fire. He then helped burn the town just before the Japanese arrived. Richardson then served with the
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
, setting off
demolition Demolition (also known as razing and wrecking) is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction (building), deconstruction, which inv ...
charges in Cebu City. When the Japanese captured General Chynoweth's headquarters, Richardson headed to
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has been ...
, making it to
Tacloban Tacloban ( ; ), officially the City of Tacloban (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city on Leyte island in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, Tacloban has a popu ...
, and the headquarters of Col. Cornell. Making his way to
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
, he learned the Japanese had already taken
Del Monte Airfield Del Monte Field (active 1941–1942) was a heavy bomber airfield of the Far East Air Force (FEAF) of the United States Army Air Forces, located in Mindanao in the Philippines. The airfield was located in a meadow of a Del Monte Corporation pine ...
, so he returned to Leyte with 11 other Americans. With 400 pesos out of the 2000 the colonel gave him, Richardson purchased a single-masted ''banca'' and sail. Richardson and 11 other Americans, all Air Corps but two, attempted to sail the native
outrigger An outrigger is a projecting structure on a boat, with specific meaning depending on types of vessel. Outriggers may also refer to legs on a wheeled vehicle that are folded out when it needs stabilization, for example on a crane that lifts he ...
to Australia against the summer southwest monsoon, but the boat was sunk by a
storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
on 18 May after only traveling 200 miles. Richardson and Pierson swam 8 miles to shore in 19 hours, where his men and he were rescued by Filipinos from a fishing village. The summer of 1942 was quiet for Richardson and the other Americans on Mindanao until September, when armed resistance against the Japanese started in
Balingasag, Misamis Oriental Balingasag, officially the Municipality of Balingasag (; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 74,385 peo ...
. Richardson headed for Malitbog, the next year, hoping to see his girlfriend "Curly". Col. Morgan was there, working with Col.
Wendell Fertig Wendell Fertig (December 16, 1900 – March 24, 1975)Brooks 2003, p. 37. was an American civil engineer, in the American-administered Commonwealth of the Philippines, who organized and commanded an American-Filipino guerrilla warfare, guerrilla ...
, to unify and organize the guerrillas before
General MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army. He served with distinction in World War I; as chief of ...
would recognize them. Richardson eventually joined the Philippine guerrilla forces of
Ruperto Kangleon Ruperto Cadava Kangleón (March 27, 1890 – February 27, 1958) was a Filipino military officer and politician. He was a native of the municipality of Macrohon in the province now named Southern Leyte. Kangleón was the acknowledged leader o ...
, and offered to establish contact with Col. Fertig on Mindanao. Richardson was successful in meeting Col. Edward McClishs' band of guerrillas, including many Americans such as
Ed Dyess William Edwin Dyess (August 9, 1916 – December 22, 1943) was an officer of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was captured after the Allied loss at the Battle of Bataan and endured the subsequent Bataan Death March. After ...
. McClishish led Richardson to Fertig, in
Misamis Occidental Misamis Occidental (; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Sindepan Mis'samis''; ; ), officially the Province of Misamis Occidental, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province located in the Regions of the Philippines, region of Northern Mindanao in th ...
, where Richardson delivered Kangleon's letter. While there, Richardson met
Chick Parsons Charles Thomas "Chick" Parsons Jr. (April 22, 1902 – May 12, 1988) was an American businessman, diplomat, and decorated World War II veteran. Pre-war years Parsons was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, moved frequently, and spent part of his yo ...
and agreed to set up radio stations around Leyte and
Samar Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...
, and provide intelligence on Japanese ship movements. Richardson rejoined Kangleon on 16 Aug., and became his
chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...
. He also quickly re-established the telegraph system for immediate communication of intelligence. Kangleon then moved his headquarters from
Maasin Maasin (IPA: ɐˈʔasin, officially the City of Maasin (; , ), is a component city and capital of the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 87,446 people. It has 70 barangays and lo ...
to Don Lorenzo's Casa in Malitbog. Richardson was a former
ham radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communi ...
operator. He set up a radio station on Leyte, manned by Joseph St. John and Chapman, and a radio station on Samar, manned by Truman Heminway. In November 1943, under orders from Col. Fertig, Kangleon, Richardson, and other guerrilla leaders were in Mindanao to coordinate activities, and meet the submarine USS ''Narwhal'' delivering American aid. By Christmas 1943, Richardson had a master radio set operating to communicate with Mindanao. However, by then the Japanese had made the Casa, in Malitbog, their headquarters for southern Leyte. On February 1, 1944, Kangleon's forces went on the offensive, which included attacks on Japanese garrisons at Anahawan and Linoan, forcing the Japanese to not venture away from the coastal towns of southern Leyte. Richardson then assisted in the establishment of a weather station, manned by two submarine arrivals, including the son of Walter S. Gamertsfelder. Next, Richardson established a radio station on Samar and plotted the
Surigao Strait Surigao Strait (Filipino: ''Kipot ng Surigaw'') is a strait in the southern Philippines, between the Bohol Sea and Leyte Gulf of the Philippine Sea. Geography It is located between the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. It lies between northern ...
mine field from
Homonhon Island Homonhon Island is an island in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. The long island is part of the Guiuan, Eastern Samar, municipality of Guiuan, encompassing eight barangays: ...
. By September 12, Richardson was operating a radio station near
Balangiga, Eastern Samar Balangiga (IPA: balaŋˈhɪga, officially the Municipality of Balangiga (; ), is a municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,341 people. Balangiga is the site of the B ...
. Richardson was picked up by a US destroyer during the
Battle of Leyte The Battle of Leyte (; ; ) in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the amphibious invasion of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American forces and Filipino guerrillas under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fou ...
, and transferred to USS ''Nashville'', where he met General MacArthur and
General Kenney George Churchill Kenney (6 August 1889 – 9 August 1977) was a United States Army general during World War II. He is best known as the commander of the Allies of World War II, Allied Air Forces in the South West Pacific Area (command), Southw ...
. For his work, Richardson was made a US Army Intelligence
major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...
by General
Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...
, holding commissions in the army and navy simultaneously. He is the only person to receive consecutive medals in both the Army and the Navy. When attempting to get his back pay, Richardson was told by a naval pay clerk that he was dead. After receiving his pay, Richardson was incorrectly thought to be drawing pay from both the Army and Navy. Richardson was given notices of four
courts-martial A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the arme ...
in as many days. After telling Admiral
Ernest King Ernest Joseph King (23 November 1878 – 25 June 1956) was a Fleet admiral (United States), fleet admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (COMINCH) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during Worl ...
and others of his experiences, all charges were dropped and King personally apologized to him. Richardson was promoted to full lieutenant and made speeches across the United States.


Memoirs

After the liberation of the Philippines, Richardson transcribed his memoirs to
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
-winning war correspondent and author Ira Wolfert of the North American Newspaper Alliance. Wolfert turned it into a book, ''An American Guerrilla in the Philippines'', which became both a
Book-of-the-Month Club Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members ch ...
selection and a condensed book in the March 1945 ''
Reader's Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wi ...
''.
Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl Francis Zanuck (; September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. Best known as a co-founder of 20th Century Fox, he played a ...
of
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
bought the film rights and had Lamar Trotti write a
screenplay A screenplay, or script, is a written work produced for a film, television show (also known as a '' teleplay''), or video game by screenwriters (cf. ''stage play''). Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of w ...
by August 1945. The end of the war led Zanuck to shelve all films with a World War II theme. It was eventually made five years after the end of the war. The name of the central character was changed to "Chuck Palmer" and he was given a fictional love-interest for dramatic purposes, but based on Richardson's girlfriend "Curly".


Postwar career

Following the war, Richardson married Coma Noel and lived in Houston, Texas, where he worked as a business executive, life insurance salesman, and a consultant, as well as acting as
technical advisor In film production, a technical advisor is someone who advises the director on the convincing portrayal of a subject. The advisor's expertise adds realism both to the acting and to the setting of a movie. Nipo T. Strongheart Nipo T. Stronghear ...
for several Hollywood films. Richardson also attempted to manufacture and sell a single-shot
slamfire A slamfire is a discharge of a firearm occurring as soon as a Cartridge (firearms), cartridge is being loaded into the Chamber (weaponry), chamber. Some firearms are designed to slamfire, but the term also describes a malfunction of self-loadin ...
"Philippine Guerrilla Gun"
shotgun A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...
through his Richardson Industries in
New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
,
Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
, that he set up in 1946. With a wide variety of shotguns brought back from Europe and American-manufactured weapons, it did not sell very well. Thomas F. Swearingen noted in his book ''World's Fighting Shotguns'', "The American market would not tolerate such a primitive firearm, even as a curio." Many years later, Richardson told a meeting of
Eagle Scout Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank has been earned by over ...
s that he learned how to live as a guerrilla through his days in Los Angeles Boy Scout Troop 92.


See also

*
List of American guerrillas in the Philippines After the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese in 1941, several Americans, civilian and military, evaded capture or escaped imprisonment. This occurred on several islands in the archipelago. With the aid of the local Philippine populati ...
*Iliff David Richardson - Obituary in Los Angeles Times, 2001-Oct-2


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, Iliff David 1918 births 2001 deaths United States Army officers United States Navy officers United States Army personnel of World War II United States Navy personnel of World War II American guerrillas of World War II Recipients of the Silver Star United States Army personnel who were court-martialed United States Navy personnel who were court-martialed