| William E. Riley Jr. |
| MEMORIAL |
Published in The Capital on July 29, 2011
William E. Riley Jr.
Col. William "Bill" E. Riley Jr., USMC (Ret.), a resident of the Arbor at
Baywoods in Annapolis for the past year-and-a-half and previously of Greenspring
Retirement Village in Springfield, VA, died July 25 of complications due to COPD.
He was born April 16, 1930, in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, to the late William and
Katherine Riley. Bill attended St. John's College High School, Washington, DC,
where he played basketball under coaching legend Joe Gallagher. He attended
Georgetown University before transferring to St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN
where he graduated in 1952.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps.
He served for 31 years, including war service in Korea with the Recoilless Rifle
Platoon, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, as well as Viet Nam. During
1968 and 1969, Riley served in Vietnam as the Commanding Officer of the 1st
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Among his comrades was
Senator Jim Webb (D-Va). Col. Riley survived the crash of his helicopter when
enemy small arms fire hit the aircraft's fuel line during a scouting mission and
numerous encounters and firefights with enemy forces. Riley led the battalion in
battles against the North Vietnamese in what was known as the Arizona territory
of South Vietnam. For his actions in Vietnam, he was awarded the Legion of Merit
with Combat V. Among his many assignments around the world as an officer in
the USMC, Col. Riley had the opportunity to serve as the Fleet Marine Officer on
the USS Albany for the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet based in Gaeta, Italy where he
served on the staffs of three 6th Fleet Commanders -- Vice Admirals Harry Train
II, James Watkins, and William Small.
Upon retirement, Col. Riley volunteered as the Service Officer for American
Legion Post 24 of Alexandria, Virginia. In that role, he aided veterans in navigating
Veterans Administration program requirements. He became expert in assisting
veterans and veterans' spouses in obtaining dignified but inexpensive funeral
services.
He also worked for Central Michigan University where he assisted members
of the armed services in obtaining degrees through the CMU programs in the
Washington, DC area.
Col. Riley volunteered for the homeless shelter operated by Blessed
Sacrament Catholic Community of Alexandria, VA, where he and his family were
parishioners for many years.
On leaving Alexandria, VA he and his wife became residents of Greenspring
Retirement Village, in Springfield, VA and later of Baywoods of Annapolis.
Col. Riley frequently vacationed in Cocoa Beach, FL and at the DisneyWorld
resort in Orlando as a member of the Disney Vacation Club.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia Riley of Annapolis; two sons,
William Edward Riley III (Elizabeth Saldana) and John Patrick Riley (Patricia
Ryan), both of Virginia; daughter, Mary Alice Gehrdes (David Gehrdes) of
Annapolis; and nine grandchildren, Brian, Emily, Katie and Erin Gehrdes of
Annapolis and Alice, Joe, Tim and Bridget Riley-Ryan and Faith Magente Riley of
Virginia.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 29 at Everly Wheatley
Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30 at Blessed
Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA. Interment
with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a
later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ House,
Catholic Diocese of Arlington, P.O. Box 1900, Merrifield, VA 22116-1900; the
University of St. Thomas, Mail Dev, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN
55105-1096; or the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 3800 Fettler Park Dr.,
#104, Dumfries, VA 22025.
William E. Riley Jr.
Col. William "Bill" E. Riley Jr., USMC (Ret.), a resident of the Arbor at
Baywoods in Annapolis for the past year-and-a-half and previously of Greenspring
Retirement Village in Springfield, VA, died July 25 of complications due to COPD.
He was born April 16, 1930, in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, to the late William and
Katherine Riley. Bill attended St. John's College High School, Washington, DC,
where he played basketball under coaching legend Joe Gallagher. He attended
Georgetown University before transferring to St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN
where he graduated in 1952.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps.
He served for 31 years, including war service in Korea with the Recoilless Rifle
Platoon, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, as well as Viet Nam. During
1968 and 1969, Riley served in Vietnam as the Commanding Officer of the 1st
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Among his comrades was
Senator Jim Webb (D-Va). Col. Riley survived the crash of his helicopter when
enemy small arms fire hit the aircraft's fuel line during a scouting mission and
numerous encounters and firefights with enemy forces. Riley led the battalion in
battles against the North Vietnamese in what was known as the Arizona territory
of South Vietnam. For his actions in Vietnam, he was awarded the Legion of Merit
with Combat V. Among his many assignments around the world as an officer in
the USMC, Col. Riley had the opportunity to serve as the Fleet Marine Officer on
the USS Albany for the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet based in Gaeta, Italy where he
served on the staffs of three 6th Fleet Commanders -- Vice Admirals Harry Train
II, James Watkins, and William Small.
Upon retirement, Col. Riley volunteered as the Service Officer for American
Legion Post 24 of Alexandria, Virginia. In that role, he aided veterans in navigating
Veterans Administration program requirements. He became expert in assisting
veterans and veterans' spouses in obtaining dignified but inexpensive funeral
services.
He also worked for Central Michigan University where he assisted members
of the armed services in obtaining degrees through the CMU programs in the
Washington, DC area.
Col. Riley volunteered for the homeless shelter operated by Blessed
Sacrament Catholic Community of Alexandria, VA, where he and his family were
parishioners for many years.
On leaving Alexandria, VA he and his wife became residents of Greenspring
Retirement Village, in Springfield, VA and later of Baywoods of Annapolis.
Col. Riley frequently vacationed in Cocoa Beach, FL and at the DisneyWorld
resort in Orlando as a member of the Disney Vacation Club.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia Riley of Annapolis; two sons,
William Edward Riley III (Elizabeth Saldana) and John Patrick Riley (Patricia
Ryan), both of Virginia; daughter, Mary Alice Gehrdes (David Gehrdes) of
Annapolis; and nine grandchildren, Brian, Emily, Katie and Erin Gehrdes of
Annapolis and Alice, Joe, Tim and Bridget Riley-Ryan and Faith Magente Riley of
Virginia.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 29 at Everly Wheatley
Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30 at Blessed
Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA. Interment
with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a
later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ House,
Catholic Diocese of Arlington, P.O. Box 1900, Merrifield, VA 22116-1900; the
University of St. Thomas, Mail Dev, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN
55105-1096; or the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 3800 Fettler Park Dr.,
#104, Dumfries, VA 22025.