Private First Class Richardson was a member of Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 30 November 1950. His remains were not recovered.

Richardson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman 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.