When the war began, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He arrived at Parris Island in December, 1941; after graduation, he was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Private Shockley served with B/1/1 from New River, North Carolina to their landing on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. For the next six weeks, he participated in front line fighting from combat patrols to defensive actions, all the while struggling to get used to the demands of combat, environment, and the Corps. Shockley's platoon was in the lead of a patrol by their parent battalion, 1/1, on the morning of September 17, 1942. They were on the trail of Japanese troops who had recently been defeated in the famous battle of Bloody Ridge, and found them – or, more accurately, were found by them – around 1330 hours that day. The lead platoon ran directly into an ambush, and was completely cut off. After two and a half hours of fighting, the rest of the Marines disengaged, leaving the trapped men to their fate. Eighteen Marines were lost in the Japanese trap. Their remains were not discovered until September 25, which was officially declared their date of death. Nine of these men – including Riley Shockley – are still listed as missing in action, their ultimate fates unknown.
Family links provided by Mary Jo (46904966)
His family were farmers. Before the war Riley was the manager of a retail store in Chattanooga , Tennessee
Family links provided by Mary Jo (46904966)
His family were farmers. Before the war Riley was the manager of a retail store in Chattanooga , Tennessee
When the war began, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He arrived at Parris Island in December, 1941; after graduation, he was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Private Shockley served with B/1/1 from New River, North Carolina to their landing on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. For the next six weeks, he participated in front line fighting from combat patrols to defensive actions, all the while struggling to get used to the demands of combat, environment, and the Corps. Shockley's platoon was in the lead of a patrol by their parent battalion, 1/1, on the morning of September 17, 1942. They were on the trail of Japanese troops who had recently been defeated in the famous battle of Bloody Ridge, and found them – or, more accurately, were found by them – around 1330 hours that day. The lead platoon ran directly into an ambush, and was completely cut off. After two and a half hours of fighting, the rest of the Marines disengaged, leaving the trapped men to their fate. Eighteen Marines were lost in the Japanese trap. Their remains were not discovered until September 25, which was officially declared their date of death. Nine of these men – including Riley Shockley – are still listed as missing in action, their ultimate fates unknown.
Family links provided by Mary Jo (46904966)
His family were farmers. Before the war Riley was the manager of a retail store in Chattanooga , Tennessee
Family links provided by Mary Jo (46904966)
His family were farmers. Before the war Riley was the manager of a retail store in Chattanooga , Tennessee
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SHOCKLEY RILEY D ** PRIVATE ** TENNESSEE
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