- SURNAME
Riegel
- FORENAME
James Edward
- UNIT
2 Raider Bn (Company F)
- RANK
Private
- NUMBER
479853
- DATE OF DEATH
1st November 1943
- AGE
19
- GRAVESITE
South Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 13.05.1924, Troy, Ohio
father William Edward Riegel
mother Hazel Marie Riegel
resided Santa Rita, New Mexico
Next of kin - Father Mr. Ed Riegle, PO Box 273, Santa Rita, New Mexico
KIA 01.11.1943, Bougainville
awarded Navy Cross
DATE OF DEATH:
01-Nov-1943AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/riegel-james-e.29775/CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private James E. Riegel (MCSN: 479853), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving with Company F, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion in action against enemy Japanese forces during the landing attack of the THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), in the Cape Torokina Area, Bougainville Island, British Solomon Islands, on 1 November 1943. When his platoon became immobilized by heavy machine-gun fire from an enemy gun emplacement during the assault in the Cape Torokina area, Private Riegel, acting as an automatic rifleman, passed his weapon to a comrade and, obtaining several hand grenades from the other men, unhesitatingly advanced toward the hostile emplacement. Making a hazardous frontal attack, he hurled grenades into the enemy position and, although fatally wounded, succeeded in destroying it. Private Riegel's courageous initiative and heroic devotion to duty enabled his platoon to continue its advance against the enemy and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7901FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229536079/james-edward-riegel
Last edited:
