He entered the service on 12 January 1943 from Peoria, Illinois. He enlisted as a Private; he had four years of high school education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Salespersons".

We have him listed on the 437th TCG Special Orders #195, dated 27 December 1943; these were the orders generated at Pope Field (Fort Bragg, NC) for the first phase of movement by air and by rail of the 437th personnel to their eventual overseas deployment. He also appears on General Orders #9 of 31 March 1944 as one of the members of the 437th TCG being awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He is listed in the Dragoon Movement orders of July 1944 as a passenger; he had apparently been promoted to Tech Sergeant.

Rich was a member of the 437th TCG Association and was listed on their rosters from 1972 until 1990.