Vernon Drew Rigdon
"Billy"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 495069
October 11, 1924
in Ashland, LA
Orie Rigdon
Tommie (Joyner) Rigdon
later Mrs. Tommie Hoadley
Fair Park High School (1942)
Centenary College of LA (1949)
Depot employee
Barksdale Field
December 4, 1942
in New Orleans, LA
Joined 9/4/1943 from Guard Company #1, Puget Sound Navy Yard
Left (wounded in action) 6/22/1944 to hospital
October 30, 1945
Discharged
514 Western Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana – home of mother, Mrs. Tommie J. Hoadley
Campaigns
Outfit: Able Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)
Outfit: Able Company, First Battalion, 24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad Leader)
Important Events:
June 18, 1944 – led combat patrol resulting in 12 enemy KIA and 28 prisoners of war; received Bronze Star Medal.
June 22, 1944 – seriously wounded in action (gunshot wounds chest and neck; paralysis brachial plexus) and evacuated for treatment
Decorations
Medal
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Campaign
Saipan
Saipan
Citation
[See below]
Service Stories
“Once I held my squad leader’s head up while the Corpsman tried to doctor his gunshot wound. Cpl. Rigdon was his name. He was hit hard through the back; blood was gushing out all over. I got sick at my stomach for about 10 minutes.”
Tommy Lynchard, describing the ambush on June 22, 1944.
I love my grandpa