Lieutenant Richey was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 152 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37). On 6 May 1953, following a strike south of Wonsan, North Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 19 August 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Richey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.