Years of service 1917 - 1953 Service number 0-829 | Rank Lieutenant General | |
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Born February 2, 1897
Minneapolis, Minnesota ( 1897-02-02 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War I
Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Château-Thierry
Battle of Soissons
United States occupation of Haiti
World War II
Bougainville Campaign
Palau Island Campaign
Philippines Campaign
1948 Arab–Israeli War Died 28 April 1970, Annapolis, Maryland, United States Service/branch United States Marine Corps Awards Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit (2), Purple Heart (2) Battles and wars World War I, Battle of Belleau Wood Commands helds United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, 3rd Marine Division | ||
William Edward Riley (February 2, 1897 - April 28, 1970) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant General, who served on the staff of admiral William Halsey Jr. during World War II. He is also noted as a Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine.
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Early career
William E. Riley was born on February 2, 1897 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the College of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated in June 1917 with Bachelor of Arts degree. Riley decided to enlist as Private to the United States Marine Corps during his studies and after graduation, he was commissioned Second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He was subsequently assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle Range in Winthrop, Maryland for basic training.
After the finnishing of his training, Riley was appointed a Platoon leader within the 74th Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and sailed for France in October 1917. The 6th Regiment participated in the further training activities after its arrival, before entered the trenches in Toulon sector near Verdun in March 1918. During the April of the same year, Germans used combat gas and 74th Company was almost wiped out. Second lieutenant Riley was also wounded, but he was able to return soon to the frontline, but was transferred to the 95th Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
Riley participated in the famous Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918 and also in the Battle of Château-Thierry, where he was decorated with Silver Star for gallantry in action. He was also promoted to rank of First lieutenant on July 1, 1918. During the upcoming Battle of Soissons, Riley participated in the frontal attack. When the company commander was mortally wounded, Riley assumed command of the Company and led it forward under heavy enemy machine gun and artillery fire until he himself was severely wounded. His wounds were so serious, that Riley was evacuated back to the United States in December 1918. For his leadership of the Company, Riley was decorated with his second Silver Star for heroism in action. He was also decorated with Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with Guilt Star and Fourragère by the Government of France.
World War II
With the United States entry to World War II, Riley still served as Fleet Marine Officer with Atlantic Squadron under the command of Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll. During that time, Riley was promoted to rank of Colonel on January 1, 1942. At the end of April 1942, Colonel Riley was transferred to the War Plans Division within Headquarters of Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, where he served under the command of Admiral Ernie King. For his outstanding service in that capacity, Riley was decorated with Navy Commendation Medal.
On April 1, 1943, Riley was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and transferred to the Pacific theater, where he was appointed Assistant War Plans officer on the staff of Commander South Pacific Area under Admiral William Halsey. He was later appointed Assistant Chief of Staff of War Plans within South Pacific Area Command. In this capacity, admiral Halsey asked Riley for advice in the matter of I Marine Amphibious Corps new commander. Both agreed on the name of major general Roy S. Geiger.
During his service in this capacity, Riley was decorated with Legion of Merit and later also with Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Citation
Action Date: July 22, 1943 - April 8, 1944 Name: William E. Riley Service: United States Marine Corps Rank: Brigadier General Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General William E. Riley (MCSN: 0-829), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Assistant War Plans Officer and subsequently as Assistant Chief of Staff, War Plans, on the Staff of the Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force in the preparations for the operations of troops of that command from 22 July 1943 to 8 April 1944. Displaying keen insight into the problems of amphibious warfare, painstaking care in planning, and shrewd and skillful judgment, Brigadier General Riley was instrumental in preparing plans for the assault of Vella Lavella, Bougainville, Green and Emirau Island which materially advanced the progress of the war and resulted in the saving of large numbers of lives of Allied troops. His thorough knowledge of landing operations and his grasp of the strategic situation contributed in large part toward enabling the theater commander to by-pass heavily defended enemy bases, thereby hastening operations at a minimum cost in casualties. The comprehensive knowledge, brilliant strategic planning, and careful preparation displayed by Brigadier General Riley throughout this period reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.He later served again under admiral Halsey as Assistant Chief of Staff of War Plans within his United States Third Fleet. Riley participated with this command in the Palau Island Campaign and Philippines Campaign and later in 1944 served as advisor to admiral Halsey on amphibious and ground operations in the Western Pacific and Southwest Pacific areas. For his service in this capacity, General Riley was decorated with his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V".
On May 12, 1945, Riley was transferred to the 3rd Marine Division under the command of Major general Graves B. Erskine and served as Assistant Division Commander. Division was stationed on Guam at that time. On October 21, general Graves was transferred back to the United States and Riley was appointed Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division. He only oversaw the inactivation of the division, which was finished on December 28, 1945.
Postwar career
Riley returned from Pacific and was appointed Director, Division of Public Information within Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington D.C. serving until June 1946, when he was appointed Director, Division of Recruiting. On May 31, 1948, Riley was transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he was detached for brief period to 2nd Marine Division.
During the August 1948, Riley was sent to Middle East and was appointed Commander of United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine. In this capacity, he served as Senior US observer in Palestine, who was in charge of co-ordination of assistance and inspecting of US observers under mediator, Folke Bernadotte. During that time, he was also promoted to the rank of Major General.
General Riley retired from the Marine Corps in June 1953. He was also advanced to the rank of Lieutenant General on the retired list due to having been specially commended in combat. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Riley was appointed Deputy Director for Management of United States Foreign Operations Administration in September 1953. Within this agency, he was appointed Director of United States Operations Mission in Turkey. He finally retired in May 1955.
Lieutenant General William E. Riley died on April 28, 1970 in Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He was survived by his wife Katherine (1900-1978) and son William E. Riley Jr. (1930-2011). His son was also career Marine Corps officer, who served in Korea and Vietnam and was decorated multiple times, including award of Legion of Merit with Combat "V". They are all buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant general Riley: