Richard James Ahern was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Gurley, Nebraska, to James Ahern, a farmer, and Sadie Penry Ahern, a homemaker. He was the oldest of five children and the only son. The family moved to California after 1935, and Richard attended Van Nuys High School. The 1938 yearbook identified him as a sophomore.

He enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 10, 1939, and was a fireman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

One sister, Margaret, attended nursing school during World War II and eventually joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. She achieved the rank of captain during the Korean War.

Sources: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California; Mercy College of Nursing in San Diego, California; 1942 Van Nuys High School yearbook; Census; Navy muster roll. Navy photo. If you have additions, corrections or a photograph, please contact us: bjbuelcarter@gmail.com. It is a work in progress to research all 1,177 men killed on the Arizona, and we welcome help from family and friends. Thank you, the USS Arizona Mall memorial project at the University of Arizona.

Courtesy of USS Arizona Mall Memorial,

Name: Richard James Ahern
Branch: United States Navy
Service Number: 382 12 14
Rate: F1/c (Fireman First Class)
Duties: Fire and tend boilers. Operate, adjust and repair pumps.
Enlisted: 10 October 1939
Place: Los Angeles, California
Onboard USS Arizona: 20 December 1939
From: NTS San Diego
Date of Birth: 2 October 1921
Place of Birth: Gurley, Nebraska
School: Van Nuys High School
Hometown / State on December 1941: Van Nuys, California
Next of Kin: Mr. James Daniel Ahern - Father
Address: 6617 Vesper Avenue, Van Nuys, California
Disposition: Unrecoverable – Among the 900+ souls still onboard the USS Arizona
Posthumous Awards: Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Star, WWII Victory Medal

Courtesy of USSArizona.org. "AHERN, Richard James - F1/c USN - California." Accessed April 24, 2021. ,

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