Private Richardson was a member of the 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was seriously wounded by the enemy near Hadong, South Korea on 27 July 1950 and returned to duty on 21 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 11 November 1950.

Richardson was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.