James Weldon Riddle
Sergeant, U.S. Army

James Weldon Riddle is the son of Thomas Morris and Claudia Johnson Riddle.

In April 1951, Sergeant James Weldon Riddle was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 24th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 22 April, SGT Riddle's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Pangwa-dong, North Korea. Company B, assigned the mission of attacking and securing Hill 834, was suddenly subjected to intense and accurate small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. Although his men were pinned down by the heavy volume of fire, SGT Riddle exposed himself repeatedly when he single-handedly rushed the hostile emplacements. One by one, he neutralized them with grenades and rifle fire while encouraging his men to follow him up the slope. About 150 yards from the objective, SGT Riddle charged the emplacement and, although wounded, managed to destroy both the weapon and its crew. Refusing medical aid, he gathered more grenades and assaulted another position, rendering it unusable. With his ammunition expended, and weak from his wounds, he still organized his men and led them in the final assault against the objective which they successfully secured. During this action SGT Riddle was killed by a burst of enemy fire. SGT Riddle's extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant James Weldon Riddle (ASN: RA-15258471), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 24th Infantry Division. Sergeant Riddle distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pangwa-dong, Korea, on 22 April 1951. Assigned the mission of attacking and securing Hill 834, Company B, advancing against the enemy, was suddenly subjected to intense and accurate small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. Although his men were pinned down by the heavy volume of fire, Sergeant Riddle exposed himself repeatedly in single-handedly rushing the hostile emplacements. One by one, he neutralized them with grenades and rifle fire, encouraging his men to follow him up the slope. At a point approximately 150 yards from the objective, he unhesitatingly charged the emplacement. Although seriously wounded, Sergeant Riddle managed to destroy both the weapon and its crew. Refusing medical aid, he gathered more grenades and assaulted another position, rendering it ineffective. With his ammunition expended, and weak from his wounds, he nevertheless organized his men and led them in the final assault against the objective which they successfully secured. During this action Sergeant Riddle was killed by a burst of enemy fire.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 650 (August 18, 1951)

Memorialization

The remains of Sergeant James Weldon Riddle have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 6 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.

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