Joseph William Richardson

A Life Remembered, Chief Boatswain's Mate Joseph William Richardson, USN (Ret.) Joseph William Richardson died at home on February 27, 2011. Born in Landgraff, WVA on January 10, 1926, he was the son of the late Richard Richardson and Evelyn Virginia Belle. He left home to join the Navy and see the world, however racism pervaded the armed forces when he enlisted and Joseph like most black Navy men of the period, was assigned as a Stewarts' Mate but Joseph had different ideas and after three months of special testing, he was one of nine blacks excepted by the Navy for general service. Joseph had a stellar Navy career that began in 1943 and lasted for 30 years and 1 day. During his career he received many awards and citations including: 6 Good Conduct Awards, Letter of Commendation from CO Military Training, WWII Victory Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominion Republic), National Defense Ribbon, Navy Occupation Ribbon (European), 2 American Area Campaign Ribbon Awards, Nation Defense Service Medal (Bronze Star). Joseph's career covered many tours of duty and he was blessed with many experiences that broadend his life. He saw duty all over the Pacific Theatre. After attending "Underwater Demolition Training (UDT)" better know as "frogmen" in 1950, he was selected to attend parachute jump training at Fort Benning, GA. After graduation he went to Dam Neck Naval Base in Little Creek, VA to study explosive devices. While there he set a record for staying under water for 63 hours 15 minutes in 32 feet of water, a record which has not been broken to this day. He was on the team that put the inflation collar around the first space capsule that astronaut John Glenn flew. In January 1962 under the order from President John F. Kennedy the first two teams of Navy SEALs were formed and Joseph was chosen for SEAL training. Three-hundred men were selected for training, 90 finished, and only 9 of the 90 were chosen as instructors, Joseph was the only black SEAL. The name "SEAL" is an acronym for "Sea, Air and Land" and symbolizes the three elements in and from which they operate. Their stealth and clandestine methods of operation allow them to conduct multiple missions against targets that larger forces cannot approach undetected. He was one of 45 men who survived when the aircraft carrier USS WASP collided with the destroyer-minesweeper USS Hobson in the 50's which carried a total of 265 men. He went to the South Pole on a mission to install the first atomic generator at McMurdo Station. He did two tours in Viet Nam as a Seal Captain and lost no men; he was the first to command a commissioned Land Craft Utility (LCU) with a crew of 12, he commanded the first and only LCU the United States Navy had at that time. These LCU's are now commanded by officers and are known as Air Cushion Craft or Hydrofoils. He led the diving team that did the underwater survey for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. He was also chosen to lead the party that set up the "Petty Officer Academy" at Little Creek Amphibious Base. In 1973 Joseph retired with a rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate (E-7). He spent his remaining years in Norfolk, VA with his family. Joseph enjoyed being active and so after retiring he went to work for Mrs. Lucille Seals at the Mark IV Lounge as their first DJ until his health limited him. He leaves to cherish his memory his dear, devoted wife, Jane Richardson; his children; son Kenneth Richardson of PA; daughter Monica (husband Lansing) Covel, of VA Beach, VA; son Jasper (wife Agnes) Anthony Jr., of Jacksonville, FL; son Antonio Anthony, Sr., Norfolk, VA; daughter Valerie (husband Armond) Richardson of MO; daughter Shelvie Jo (husband Jesse) Richardson Harness of KY; son Alonzo (Skeet) Brown, wife Judy, N.J. William (Bill) and wife Sandy Joyce of New Jersey, John (Ike) and wife Evoynne Joyce, Tx., sister DeAnna Harris of CT; cousins Edward (wife Shirley) Madison of OH; Emogene (husband Isaac) Blackmon of N.C.; Dewey (wife Sheila) Madison of DC; brother-in-law Luther (wife Mordine) Flowers of Norfolk, VA; sister-in-law Gwendolyn (husband Joseph) Vincent of Norfolk, VA. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren; Antonio Jr., Laquisha, Valentino, Darrell, Cameron, Janessa, Briana, Colyn, and Armond Jr. and a host of nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends. Funeral services will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA at 2 PM on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Interment with military honors will follow immediately after the service in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the National Cancer Society. Condolences may be offered online to the family at www.woodlawngroup.com.