USS Oklahoma Sailor (Rice, I.) to be Buried at Roseland Park Cemetery on October 2, 2021

American Legion Post 374 calls upon those that would like to welcome Petty Officer Rice home. 

Media Contacts: 
LTJG Matthew Rak, Polar Bear Battalion, US Naval Sea Cadet Corps; mrak@seacadets.org; 248-632-2079

Berkley, MI – September 28, 2021 – The Berkley American Legion Stanley J. Fons Post 374 has announced a burial ceremony for USS Oklahoma Sailor, Rice, on October 2, 2021, at Roseland Park Cemetery beginning at 2 PM. 

Petty Officer Third Class Irvin Franklin Rice was a Radioman Third Class on the USS Oklahoma. On December 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, several Japanese torpedoes hit the Oklahoma's hull and the ship capsized. 

Rice was reported missing in action or lost at sea and ultimately declared dead. His remains were eventually recovered from the vessel, however, they could not be identified at the time and were buried as unknown remains at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rice was memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, an American Battle Monuments Commission location. 

On July 23, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Navy Radioman Third Class Irvin F. Rice, 22, of Detroit, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 5, 2020. Rice's DPAA personnel profile can be viewed here. 

Thanks to scientists from both DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and the advances in forensic techniques, Rice’s remains were able to be identified, and he will be brought back to his home state for a beautiful farewell ceremony. 

The burial ceremony for Rice will be held on October 2, 2021, at Roseland Park Cemetery (29001 Woodward Ave) in Berkley, MI. The funeral procession will be coming through between 1:45 PM and 2 PM and will be escorted by the Patriot Guard.

Petty Officer Rice was awarded the following; World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal.

Those that would like to welcome Petty Officer Rice home may do so by bringing their US Flags, Navy Flags, and POW/MIA Flags.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at https://www.dpaa.mil/. 

Contributions in Irvin's memory may be made to Berkley American Legion Post 374, 2079 Twelve Mile Rd, Berkley, Michigan 48072.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HarryjWillLivonia.com for the Rice family.

About the American Legion
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness. 

The Berkley American Legion Stanley J. Fons Post 374 is a not-for-profit, community-service organization that supports local veterans, their families and friends, and the community they served.