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Lee Braswell (SBTS Writer)-Historian
to remember
Rich, Porter Leigh, PO2.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Lake Preston, SD
Last Address Box 82 Sheridan, OR (Wife~Margaret Rich)
Casualty Date Dec 07, 1941
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Hawaii
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Lake Preston Cemetery - Kingsbury County, South Dakota
US Navy Water Tender Second Class Petty Officer Porter Leigh Rich has been accounted for, Rich has been listed as missing in action since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
A Memorial Service for Rich is scheduled for March 31st at 2:00 pm at the Lake Preston High School Gymnasium at 104 Fremont Ave. N. Lake Preston, SD. Interment service following at the Lake Preston Cemetery, full Military Funeral Honors will be conducted by the U.S. Navy & U.S. Air Force, which include members of the Active & Navy Reserve Funeral Detail from the Navy Operational Support Center in Sioux Falls, SD and members of the Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard Team, from Rapid City, SD. Members of Lake Preston American Legion Post #63 & American Legion Auxiliary Unit #63 will be serving refreshments and a lite lunch at the gymnasium following the cemetery honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Porter L. Rich to Operation Homefront at www.operationhomefront.org/ or by mail to 1355 Central Parkway S, Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78232, Phone: (210) 659-7756.
On Dec. 7, 1941, Rich was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen. Rich’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at an American Battle Monuments Commission site along with the others who are missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. After 76 years, Porter L. Rich’s remains were identified positively through family DNA-testing and will now finally be home.
Porter Leigh Rich was born March 24, 1914, in Lake Preston, SD. He was the second of four children born to his parents, Louis L. and Ora Leigh (Rewey) Rich. His other siblings were the late Frances (Rich) Loomis, the late Fern Rich, and the late Alford “Ted” Rich.
Memories passed down from his brother, Ted, were of Porter being an avid reader. He also loved the outdoors, with passions for hunting and studying trees. Trees planted by Porter in his youth are still standing today around his childhood farm place. He graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1931 and joined the workforce.
Porter then attempted to enlist in the US Navy but was rejected due to a heart murmur. One year later, he tried to enlist again and was successful. His first enlistment had him serving on the USS Texas and USS Pennsylvania battleships. After re-enlisting for another 4 years in the spring of 1939, he was assigned to and served on the USS Oklahoma until his death on December 7, 1941.
After re-enlisting, Porter started planning his future. The fall before his passing, he married Margaret Lemkuhl in August 1941 in Yuma, AZ. While on their honeymoon, he was summoned back to the USS Oklahoma, which was anchored in San Diego, CA. The newlyweds returned to San Diego and the USS Oklahoma left for Pearl Harbor, HI in September. A son, Ronald Leigh Rich, was born to Porter and Margaret in May 1942. Ronald grew up with only shared memories and photos of his father, and treasures his father’s Purple Heart. In August 1949, The American Legion Post #63 in Lake Preston was named after the first person killed in action in WWII from the town, Porter L. Rich. Margaret passed away in 2008.
Porter is survived by his son, Ronald Rich of Mesa, AZ, 3 grandsons, Scott Rich of Mesa, AZ, Kevin Rich of Stanford, VA, and Michael Rich of Aurora, CO, sister-in-law Joan (Koch) Rich of Lake Preston, SD, 2 nieces, Colleen (Rich) Ryan of Gig Harbor, WA, and Mary (Rich) Hauck of Lake Preston, SD. 3 nephews, Curtis Rich of Rapid City, SD, Leslie Loomis of Milpitas, CA, and Lloyd Loomis of Los Angeles, CA, and many great-grandchildren, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Porter’s remains will finally be brought home for burial next to his parents and his sister Fern.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,948 service members (approximately 26,000 are assessed as possibly-recoverable) still unaccounted for from World War II. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit DPAA website www.dpaa.mil, or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420.
Lee Braswell (SBTS Writer)-Historian
to remember
Rich, Porter Leigh, PO2.
