Blaine Riley
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 445404
March 16, 1922
in Crockettsville, KY
Richard M. Riley
Amanda (Thompson) Riley
Details unknown
American Rolling Mill Company (ARMCO)
in Middletown, OH
September 10, 1942
at Cincinnati, OH
November 15, 1942
from Tenth Separate Recruit Bn.
June 22, 1944
Killed in action at Saipan
June 25, 1944
Died of wounds
Morris Fork, Kentucky – home of mother, Mrs. Amanda Riley
Service & Campaigns
Boot camp at New River, North Carolina, with Tenth Separate Recruit Battalion. Outposted directly to Able Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River, 15 November 1942.
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 745 (Rifleman)
Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 746 (Automatic Rifleman)
Important Events:
June 22, 1944 – wounded in action (gunshot, left side) in ambush on Hill 646. Evacuated to transport USS Cambria; transferred to hospital ship USS Relief.
June 25, 1944 – died of wounds aboard USS Relief.
Buried Plot 6, Row 2, Grave 29, Ennylabegan Cemetery, Marshall Islands
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
Campaign
Saipan (June 22, 1944)
Citation
—
Riley had gotten behind the bush that a Jap was hiding in. I took a couple of steps and was standing at Riley's side. I told him I would be right back to help him. I stepped from behind this bush and there were five Japs. They were only five or six feet in front of me. I dropped to my right knee and shot the two on the gun, two shots each, and the two standing, one shot each, kicked over their machine gun and another Jap a little to the right jumped up and ran. I fired at him and my empty clip flew out. Just as I reloaded a Jap sniper shot me in the upper left shoulder.
Riley and I were placed on stretchers and loaded on a Jeep. I either slept or lost consciousness because I never have been able to recall anything more about that trip. PFC Riley did not survive.
Blaine is buried in Amerida Morris Cemetery, Morris Fork, Kentucky.
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