HLS 21RS-1167 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Richard for his military
service
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Richard for his service in the U.S. Navy.
3 WHEREAS, Joseph William Richard was born in Church Point, Louisiana, to Pierre
4and Ada Venable Richard; at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Navy and
5served from 1941 until 1954; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Richard served at Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, and the Pacific Theatre;
7on December 7, 1941, he was assigned as a shipfitter on the USS Rigel, which was docked
8at Pearl Harbor for repairs and had no guns or ammunition on board; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Richard had just finished breakfast on the morning of December 7,
101941, when he recognized the red sun emblem on the sides of low-flying planes heading
11towards Pearl Harbor; and
12 WHEREAS, directly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Richard participated in
13the rescue of American sailors who were trapped on the USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma;
14he helped cut thirty-three sailors out of the USS Arizona and, later, helped rescue another
15three sailors from the nearby USS Oklahoma; and
16 WHEREAS, fifty years after the attack, Mr. Richard attended a convention hosted
17by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and met Bob Sullivan, who was one of the men
18that he helped rescue; and
19 WHEREAS, during his thirteen years of military service to our country, Mr. Richard
20was awarded with the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Medal with a Bronze Star,
21American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars,
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HR NO. 24
1Philippine Liberation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Korean Service Medal, Navy
2Occupation Medal, Korean War Service Medal, and Honorable Discharge patch for his
3valiant service; and
4 WHEREAS, Mr. Richard is a true hero who helped save the lives of many Americans
5following the attacks on Pearl Harbor; he is most deserving of the highest recognition for his
6valiant service to our country.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
8Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Richard for his
9service in the United States Navy and does hereby recognize Mr. Richard as an American
10hero.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Joe
12Richard.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 24 Original 2021 Regular Session DeVillier
Commends Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Richard for his military service.
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