David Richardson (American)
Encyclopedia
David Richardson was an American
journalist
and United States Army
soldier. A member of Merrill's Marauders
, he became famous for his behind the lines coverage of their combat exploits during the Burma Campaign
of World War II
. His articles for Yank, the Army Weekly
describing the Marauders' campaign's record-setting marches and heavy sustained fighting were noted as "[capturing] the flavor of battle, as well as the Marauders' jingoistic pride and derring-do".
, Richardson was initially rejected by the Army for being underweight and subsequently enlisted as a reporter. Reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant, he volunteered to chronicle the 1,000 mile march of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), better known as Merrill's Marauders
, and their subsequent fighting.
and through the Burmese jungle. Unusual for a reporter, Richardson would often fight alongside his fellow soldiers. David Quaid, a photojournalist, remarked that "The stuff he wrote was like what no one else was doing. ... When it got dicey, the only correspondent there was Dave Richardson."
. He received two Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit
and the Combat Infantryman Badge
. It is reported that he would have been eligible to be awarded the Purple Heart
for a head wound in New Guinea
, however he refused treatment and returned to action, wearing an eyepatch. Refusing treatment prevented proper documentation of the incident for the award citation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier. A member of Merrill's Marauders
Merrill's Marauders
Merrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
, he became famous for his behind the lines coverage of their combat exploits during the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His articles for Yank, the Army Weekly
Yank, the Army Weekly
Yank, the Army Weekly was a weekly magazine published by the United States military during World War II. The idea for the magazine came from Egbert White, who had worked on Stars and Stripes during World War I. He proposed the idea to the Army in early 1942, and accepted a commission as Lieutenant...
describing the Marauders' campaign's record-setting marches and heavy sustained fighting were noted as "[capturing] the flavor of battle, as well as the Marauders' jingoistic pride and derring-do".
Biography
Born in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Richardson was initially rejected by the Army for being underweight and subsequently enlisted as a reporter. Reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant, he volunteered to chronicle the 1,000 mile march of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), better known as Merrill's Marauders
Merrill's Marauders
Merrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
, and their subsequent fighting.
Burma Campaign
In 1943, Richardson joined the Marauders and began a four month training program to prepare himself and the other Marauders for their attack. In February 1944, the Marauders began their four month march over the HimalayasHimalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
and through the Burmese jungle. Unusual for a reporter, Richardson would often fight alongside his fellow soldiers. David Quaid, a photojournalist, remarked that "The stuff he wrote was like what no one else was doing. ... When it got dicey, the only correspondent there was Dave Richardson."
Retirement
Richardson retired in 1982 and settled down in Washington, DC. Giving several speeches during his retirement years, he was quoted as saying that the reason why he was constantly at the forefront of combat and other dangers was "for a good story." He died at the age of 88, in 2005 of prostate cancer.Awards
David Richardson is believed to be the most highly decorated journalist of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received two Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
. It is reported that he would have been eligible to be awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for a head wound in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, however he refused treatment and returned to action, wearing an eyepatch. Refusing treatment prevented proper documentation of the incident for the award citation.
See also
- Colonel Charles N. HunterCharles N. HunterCharles N. Hunter was the author of the book Galahad a first person account of the Burma Campaign in World War II. Galahad was the code-name for the U.S. Army's 5307th Composite Unit , better known as Merrill's Marauders. "Colonel Charles N...
was the commanding officer of Merrill's MaraudersMerrill's MaraudersMerrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
during most of the Burma CampaignBurma CampaignThe Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
.
External links
- Arlington Cemetery http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/dbrichardson.htm
- Tales of Merrill's Marauders http://www.marauder.org/yank.htm