James E. Rieger

James Edward Rieger (September 20, 1870 – July 1, 1951) was an American lawyer and United States Army officer from the state of Missouri. He was the middle child of eight children. In 1880 the Rieger family moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where James' father intended to continue his vocation as a coopersmith and farmer. However in July 1881 Gottfried Rieger died followed by his son Christopher in September, 1881. James Rieger received his primary and secondary education in Peoria and the rural schools of Adair County, Missouri, before matriculating at the First District Normal School (now Truman State University) in Kirksville. Thereafter he worked as a public school teacher for two years. After passing the Missouri Bar he returned to Kirksville and established a private law practice in 1898. James Rieger served as Adair County Prosecuting attorney from 1909 to 1911. Then-Major Rieger, in command of 2nd Battalion, 139th Regiment, led his men in a successful frontal attack on Vauquois Hill, considered the strongest point on the Hindenburg Line between Verdun and Aisne. After regrouping his battalion, Rieger led them across the Aire river through heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire to capture the key village of Exermont. Their defenses broken, the Germans fell back all along the front. For his actions Major Rieger was hailed as "the Hero of the Argonne" by French and American press.

Rieger Armory in Kirksville, Missouri. Constructed in the mid-1930s, it was named in honor of Colonel Rieger. Photo of Col. Rieger in uniform shortly after World War I. This photo hangs inside Rieger Armory, named in his honor. German howitzer, Kirksville, Missouri. Captured by 35th Division. Presented to Col. James Rieger and the city of Kirksville.

Hometown hero After returning to the US in the spring of 1919, Colonel Rieger resumed his law practice in Kirksville. Speaking of their battlefield commander on May 9, 1919, two mustered out soldiers told the Columbia Evening Missourian newspaper "We had a Major from Kirksville. His name was James E. Rieger" said one. "He was the major of second battalion. He would do his best for us and there wasn't one of us that wouldn't go to Hell for him." "He surely ought to be made governor of Missouri" interrupted another. However higher political office wasn't in Colonel Rieger's plans. Other than serving as a special judge when asked, he was mostly content to live a quiet life as a small-town lawyer. In 1938 Rieger returned to France at the behest of Missouri Governor Lloyd Stark as part of a three-man commission to inspect the gravesites of fallen Missourians. Both sons followed their father into military service. Wray Rieger served in the Missouri National Guard while also serving as a Professor of Chemistry and Science at Kirksville State Teachers College. During World War II he was an active duty U.S. Army officer in the China Burma India Theater, retiring from military service in 1946 with the rank of Colonel. Younger brother Nathaniel became a lawyer like his father before him. His work for Union Electric Company in land acquisition played an important role in the creation of Lake of the Ozarks. As was the family tradition, Nathaniel Rieger was also an officer in the Missouri National Guard. Called to active duty in 1940, he served in Alaska and other Pacific Theater postings, mostly as a staff officer of the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG). Shortly after the war ended he accepted a commission as a regular Army officer, continuing his work with the JAG Corps. He served in Korea during the Korean War and several notable positions thereafter including Commandant of the Judge Advocate General's School and as Army Judge Advocate General for Europe. Nathaniel Rieger earned the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Presidential Unit Citation from both the United States and South Korean governments. He retired with he rank of Brigadier General in 1959.