Richard Fiske was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 26, 1922. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in February of 1940. Following Field Music School, he was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) as a Marine Private bugler on July 6, 1940.
At 7:55 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Richard was on the quarterdeck when the attack began. He witnessed the Japanese planes coming in and launching their torpedoes towards his ship. There were nine torpedoes and two bombs that would eventually destroy the battleship. After the first torpedo hits, Richard rushed to his battle station which was on the navigation bridge. A few minutes later, he witnessed the captain's death.
At about 9:30 a.m., the crew was ordered to abandon the sinking ship. Richard swam to nearby Ford Island.Richard remained assigned to the USS West Virginia until January of 1944 when he was promoted to Field Musician Sergeant and was transferred to the 5th Marine Division. He participated in the landing and the bloody battle for the Japanese stronghold on Iwo Jima in 1945.
After the war, Richard enlisted in the newly established United States Air Force in 1948. He served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a Crew Chief. He retired from the Air Force in 1969 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Richard began volunteering at the USS Arizona Memorial in 1982. Often referred to one of the park's many goodwill ambassadors, he had a special duty that he performed. Richard was given the honor of dedicating two roses once a month at the USS Arizona Memorial on behalf of Mr. Zenji Abe, a Japanese pilot who participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. After placing the fowers in front of the names of the casualties from the USS Arizona, he played "Taps" on his bugle. The flowers were paid for by Mr. Abe and Richard continued to do this tribute for several years.
His narrations to visitors at the USS Arizona Memorial emphasized that the war had ended a long time ago and that good relations now existed between the United States and Japan. The Japanese pilots who attacked Oahu were following their orders and he no longer felt bitterness from their actions. His pursuits drew accolades here and abroad. In 1996, he received the Order of the Rising Sun with Silver Rays from the Japanese emperor. In January of 2004, he was honored by U.S. Secretary Gale Norton and Hawaii Governor, Linda Lingle for contributing more than 3,000 hours of time to the USS Arizona Memorial. Richard Fiske passed way on April 2, 2004 at the age of 82.
Baltimore Sun Obituary
By The Associated Press
Originally published April 6, 2004, 7:12 AM EDT
Richard Fiske
HONOLULU -- Richard Fiske, a Pearl Harbor survivor who volunteered at the USS Arizona Memorial, died Friday at his Moiliili home after a brief illness, his son said. He was 82.
Fiske was a 19-year-old bugle player aboard the USS West Virginia on Dec. 7, 1941. He swam ashore to Ford Island shortly before his ship sank.
Years later, at a reunion, Fiske met Zenji Abe, a Japanese dive-bomber pilot who took part in the attack. He embraced his former enemy and the two became friends.
Fiske went on to fight in the battle for Iwo Jima, which he once described as "36 straight days of Pearl Harbor."
After the war, the Marine enlisted in the newly established Air Force and served during the Korean and Vietnam wars as a crew chief on KC-97 and KC-135 aircraft. He retired from the military in 1973 as a master sergeant.
Fiske began volunteering at the Arizona Memorial in 1982 and was among 10 volunteers honored in January by U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle for contributing more than 3,000 hours of time.
Honolulu Advertiser Obituary
1922-2004
R.I. Fiske, Pearl Harbor survivor, dead at 82
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Richard I. Fiske, a World War II veteran who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and the battle of Iwo Jima, died Friday in his home.
He was 82 years old.
Fiske's son, Richard E. Fiske, said yesterday his father was ill for a few weeks and died quickly and peacefully at his Mo'ili'ili home.
The elder Fiske, born in Boston, was the son of a career military man and had begun his military career as a Marine. He was 19 years old in 1941 and a bugler serving his first assignment after boot camp and field music school aboard the USS West Virginia in Pearl Harbor. He was on the quarterdeck the morning of Dec. 7, the day nine Japanese torpedoes and two aerial bombs crashed into the battleship.
At his battle station, Fiske saw his captain killed. When the order came to abandon ship, he swam to Ford Island. The West Virginia sank in 12 minutes.
Fiske was later promoted to Field Music Sergeant and was transferred to the 5th Marine Division. His bugle was taken away and he was made an assistant platoon leader.
He was with the 5th Marine Division in February 1945 in the battle for Iwo Jima, an 8-square-mile Pacific island. The fighting went on for 36 days and exacted a huge human toll: 6,800 Americans dead and more than 19,000 wounded. Of 20,000 Japanese defenders, only 1,083 survived.
Fiske once described Iwo Jima as "36 straight days of Pearl Harbor."
After the war, Fiske enlisted in the newly established U.S. Air Force in 1948 after completing aircraft and engine school and also receiving his private pilot's certificate. He also served during the Korean and Vietnam wars as a crew chief on KC-97 and KC-135 aircraft. Sgt. Fiske retired from the Air Force in 1973 as a master sergeant.
Fiske had been a volunteer at the Arizona Memorial since 1982. In January, he was among 10 volunteers honored by U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Hawai'i Gov. Linda Lingle for contributing more than 3,000 hours of his time to the memorial.
Before his death, Fiske made peace with the enemy of his youth, becoming friends with Zenji Abe, a Japanese dive-bomber pilot who had participated in the second wave of attacks on Pearl Harbor and the bombing of the West Virginia.
Abe, too, had made a career of the military, retiring as an admiral. In 1991, on Abe's third trip to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona, he gave Fiske $300 and asked him to lay two roses at the memorial each month, one for him and one for Fiske. He also asked Fiske to play taps.
Fiske promised to continue the tribute for as long as he lived.
He kept his word, his son said.
In addition to his son, Fiske is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carmen Fiske; his daughters, Peggy Bundek and Ginny Kawamura; and a granddaughter and a grandson.
U.S. Veterans Gravesites Information
Name: Richard Irwin Fiske
Service Info.: SGT US MARINE CORPS WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Birth Date: 26 Mar 1922
Death Date: 2 Apr 2004
Service Start Date: 10 Jun 1952
Interment Date: 13 Apr 2004
Cemetery: National Memorial Cemetery of The Pacific
Cemetery Address: 2177 Puowaina Drive Honolulu, HI 96813
Buried At: Section Ct6-B Row 300 Site 322
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