WASHINGTON –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Navy Ensign Joseph L. Richey, 21, killed during World War II, was accounted for on May 9, 2025.
On Dec. 7, 1941, Richey was assigned to the battleship USS California, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS California sustained multiple torpedo and bomb hits, which caused it catch fire and slowly flood. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 103 crewmen, including Richey.
This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Richey's case will be published once the family receives their full briefing.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at or on social media at , , , or .