15 Jan 20 Garand Picture of the Day - Sgt John R. Rice Burial

[Mark in Rochester]

John Raymond Rice
Winnebago, Nebraska
Born April 25, 1914
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Service Number 17033372
Killed in Action
Died September 6, 1950 in Korea



Sergeant First Class Rice was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a squad leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Tabu-dong, South Korea on September 6, 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant First Class Rice was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge with Star, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the Pacific Theater Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was killed-in-action during the Korean War and was denied burial in a local cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa, because he was an American Indian.

President Harry Truman personally intervened and ordered that he be buried in Section 34 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Sergeant Rice was buried with full military honors on September 5, 1951, nearly a year to the day after he died, in Arlington National Cemetery between two generals.

Information

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[Mark in Rochester]