At the start of World War II and the Pearl Harbor bombing, then Major General Richardson commanded Seventh Corps Area where he oversaw the buildup of US California defenses following the Pearl Harbor bombing. Several months after Pearl Harbor, General Marshall sent him out on a personal reconnaissance of the whole Pacific theater to assess the extent of the allied situation. While in Australia, General MacArthur, his USMA classmate, requested of General Marshall that Gen Richardson return to command the Army Corps being stood up in Australia. Upon his return to Washington, Gen Richardson frankly reported to Gen Marshall the inappropriateness of US forces being placed under the command of foreign officers. This was based on his World War I experience from Gen Pershing insisting that US Forces fight under US command. This led to the unconfirmed rumor that his report cost him the Corps command under Gen MacArthur.