Ray Ora Riley
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army

In September 1950, then-Sergeant First Class Ray Ora Riley was serving as a Platoon Sergeant of a 75-mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 18 September, SFC Riley's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Sobuk-san, Korea. Company L, 27th Infantry Regiment, was in position on Sobuk-san Mountain when the enemy launched a strong attack on the company area, overrunning the right flank. Observing the plight of the company, SFC Riley left his platoon and reorganized the surviving men of Company L for a counterattack on the enemy. Then, personally leading a group of twenty-five men armed only with rifles and grenades, he closed with an enemy of about company strength. Inspired by SFC Riley's leadership and courage, the small group of men assaulted the hostile force, killing numerous enemy troops and regaining the positions that the enemy had overrun. As additional enemy troops began attacking the position from the opposite side of the hill, SFC Riley moved to an abandoned enemy machine-gun emplacement and turned the weapon on the advancing horde. When the attacking force was finally repulsed, twenty-five enemy dead were counted in front of his machine-gun. SFC Riley then established a defense perimeter capable of holding the left flank of the company, utilizing the remaining members of his original group and a few reinforcements that had moved up. Through the night he moved among his men, keeping them on the alert and prepared for an imminent enemy counterattack. Shortly before daybreak the attack occurred, but was successfully repulsed with tremendous losses to the enemy. SFC Riley's extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Riley was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant.

Master Sergeant Riley then served as an air-ground controller aboard an AT-6D Mosquito observation aircraft with the 6148th Tactical Air Control Squadron for the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On 6 July 1951, while flying an air-ground control mission, his aircraft ran into bad weather and crashed five miles northeast of Pyongtaek Airfield (K-6). MSG Riley died in the crash and his remains were recovered.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant First Class Ray O. Riley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of a 75-mm. Recoilless Rifle Platoon with Company M, 3d Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Riley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sobuk-san, Korea, on 18 September 1950. Company L, 27th Infantry Regiment, was in position on Sobuk-san Mountain when the enemy launched a strong attack on the company area, overrunning the right flank. Observing the plight of the company, Sergeant Riley left his platoon and reorganized the surviving men of Company L for a counterattack on the enemy. Then, personally leading a group of twenty-five men armed only with rifles and grenades, he closed with a fanatical enemy of approximately company strength. Inspired by the brilliant leadership and courageous example of Sergeant Riley, the small group of men valiantly assaulted the hostile force, killing numerous enemy troops and regaining the positions which the enemy had overrun. As additional enemy troops began attacking the position from the opposite side of the hill, Sergeant Riley moved to an abandoned enemy machine-gun emplacement and turned the weapon on the advancing horde. When the attacking force was finally repulsed, twenty-five enemy dead were counted in front of his machine-gun. Sergeant Riley then established a defense perimeter capable of holding the left flank of the company, utilizing the remaining members of his original group and a few reinforcements that had moved up. Throughout the night he moved among his men, keeping them on the alert and prepared for an imminent enemy counterattack. Shortly before daybreak the expected attack occurred, but was successfully repulsed with tremendous losses to the enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 427 (June 13, 1951)

Burial

Master Sergeant Ray Ora Riley is buried at Kingman Fraternal Cemetery in Kingman, Fountain County, IN.

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