Iliff David "Rich" Richardson (April 9, 1918 – October 10, 2001) was simultaneously a US Navy ensign and a US Army major while fighting with the Philippine resistance against Japan 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 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, then travelled through Europe, the Near and Middle East, returning to the US before the fall of France in World War II.
Wartime career
In 1940, he was commissioned an ensign in the US Navy and was posted to the USS Bittern, a minesweeper in the Philippines. He later transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, commanded by John D. Bulkeley. 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, where it was strafed 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, setting off demolition charges in Cebu City. When the Japanese captured General Chynoweth's headquarters, Richardson headed to Leyte, making it to Tacloban, and the headquarters of Col. Cornell. Making his way to Mindanao, he learned the Japanese had already taken Del Monte Airfield, 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 to Australia against the summer southwest monsoon, but the boat was sunk by a storm 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. Richardson headed for Malitbog, the next year, hoping to see his girlfriend "Curly". Col. Morgan was there, working with Col. Wendell Fertig, to unify and organize the guerrillas before General MacArthur would recognize them.
Richardson eventually joined the Philippine guerrilla forces of Ruperto Kangleon, and offered to establish contact with Col. Fertig on Mindanao. Richardson was successful in meeting Col. McLish's band of guerrillas, including many Americans such as Ed Dyess. McLish led Richardson to Fertig, in Misamis Occidental, where Richardson delivered Kangleon's letter. While there, Richardson met Chick Parsons and agreed to set up radio stations around Leyte and Samar, and provide intelligence on Japanese ship movements. Richardson rejoined Kangleon on 16 Aug., and became his chief of staff. He also quickly re-established the telegraph system for immediate communication of intelligence. Kangleon then moved his headquarters from Maasin to Don Lorenzo's Casa in Malitbog.
Richardson was a former ham radio 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 mine field from Homonhon Island. By September 12, Richardson was operating a radio station near Balangiga, Eastern Samar.