World War II Honoree

Rishel White

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wharton, West Virginia

Honored By

Matthew White

Relationship

Grandson

ENLISTED ON JANUARY 20, 1941. SERVED WITH THE 1ST ARMORED DIVISION, 4TH ARMORED DIVISION AND LASTLY IN THE RECONNAISSANCE TROOP OF THE 106TH GOLDEN LION DIVISION. WAS ON THE FRONT LINES WHEN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16TH, 1944. TWICE CAPTURED BY GERMAN SS PANZER TROOPS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HILLS OF THE ARDENNES NEAR THE SIEGFRIED LINE. MARCHED TWO WEEKS IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER, BOMBED AND STRAFED BY ALLIED PLANES IN UNMARKED BOX CARS AND SUFFERING NEAR STARVATION, WAS IMPRISONED IN STALAG IV B PRISON CAMP NEAR DRESDEN. LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIANS, BUT GIVEN NO FOOD OR MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND STILL FAR FROM AMERICAN LINES, HE MADE HIS WAY THROUGH STILL HOSTILE GERMANY, TO REACH THE AMERICAN TROOPS ACROSS THE ELBE RIVER. THE FOLLOWING MEDALS WERE AWARDED- POW MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN WITH BRONZE STAR, AND CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS FROM NEW YORK STATE.