William Edward Riley

William Edward Riley (February 2, 1897 – April 28, 1970) was a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps, who served on the staff of Admiral William Halsey Jr. during World War II. He was also Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine from 1948 to 1953.

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 a Bachelor of Arts degree. Riley decided to enlist as a private in 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 finishing 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 awarded the Silver Star Citation for gallantry in action. He was also promoted to rank of first lieutenant on July 1, 1918. During the 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 Citation for heroism in action.

During his service in this capacity, Riley was awarded the Legion of Merit and later also with Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The citation for his Navy Distinguished Service Medal reads:

Riley 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, Riley was awarded 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, 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 William E. Riley (left), Jerusalem, 1948, with Folke Bernadotte Riley returned from the 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 the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). 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 and was involved in the "Barrel Incident".

Riley retired from the Marine Corps in June 1953. He was 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.

Riley died on April 28, 1970, in Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He was survived by his wife Katherine and son William E. Riley Jr., and daughter Katherine E. Ward. His son was also career Marine Corps officer, who served in Korea and Vietnam and was decorated multiple times, including award of the 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: