Rodney L. Rieger

© David Schram

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© David Schram

Capt. Rodney L. Rieger, 25, became Enid area's seventh casualty in Vietnam.

Rieger was killed by enemy motor fire just a few weeks before his tour of duty was to end. He expected to return to Enid in March. Rieger was with Headquarters Company, First Battalion 16th Regiment of the first Infantry Division at Lai Khe near Ben Cat in South Vietnam. He was fatally wounded by shrapnel during a Viet Cong motor shelling of the camp area Feb. 24.

His widow, former Helena Nelson of Schenectady, N. Y. has been living with Drs. George and Hope Ross while Rieger was overseas. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Leo Rieger of Enid. A brother, Warren Rieger, also lives in Enid.

A graduate of Enid High School, Rieger attended University of Oklahoma and enlisted in the Army. He served as an enlisted man in Korea and Germany before his appointment to Officers Candidates School at Fort Benning, Ga., from which he graduated May 14, 1964. As an officer, Rieger was stationed at Ft. Hood, Tex., and volunteered for Vietnam duty. He had been in Vietnam since March 1966, receiving his promotion to captain while on combat duty there.

A bronze star honored Rieger's valor in Vietnam, citing him for guiding a patrol back to safety after it had been trapped between enemy and friendly fire. He was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the bronze star for setting up training for officers arriving in Vietnam.

Rieger was a member of the First Methodist Church.

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Rodney L. Rieger

© http://www.VirtualWall.org

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© http://www.VirtualWall.org

Placement on the Wall:
Panel 15E Line 86

PERSONAL DATA:
Home of Record: Enid, OK
Date of birth: 07/28/1941

MILITARY DATA:
Service Branch: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: O3
Rank: Captain
Promotion Note: None
ID No: 5322167
MOS or Specialty: 1542: Infantry Unit Commander
Length Service: 04
Unit: HHC, 1ST BN, 16TH INFANTRY, 1ST INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA:
Start Tour: 04/05/1966
Incident Date: 02/24/1967
Casualty Date: 02/24/1967
Age at Loss: 25
Location: Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Multiple fragmentation wounds

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