First Lieutenant Rivedal was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 620th Air Control and Tactical Warning Squadron, U.S. Air Force. He was listed as Missing in Action while participating in aerial support near Yongdam-ni, Korea, on 16 July 1950. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953.

Rivedal was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.