By: Mark Holtsberry
Riley Finley Ennis (part 2)
After Pearl Harbor was bombed, the United States Army was looking to keep current educated officers. Riley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel February of 1942, by December 11, 1942, he was promoted to Colonel. Military records are unclear as to his placement with high command. I sense that his skill set was used to train and set up command organization.
On August 9, 1944, Riley was promoted to Brigadier General, but only as temporary position. By January 1945, Riley served under Major General Roderick P. Allen with the 12th Armored Division, as s Commanding General of Combat Group A. on the borderland of Luxembourg and Belgium.
Near the end of World War 2, Riley, a Major General, was replaced and sent home for reassignment. He was placed in charge of military affairs in San Francisco, from there, he was be sent to Ft. McPherson, Georgia, to work with the Third Army. On June 3, 1946, Riley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry as a permanent position. Staying in the military, as March 3, 1948, records listed him as a Brigadier General of Infantry.
Then the Korean War broke out. February of 1951, with the rank of Major General, Riley served as Assistant Chief of Staff to General Mathew B. Ridgeway. On May 5, 1951, Riley was sent to Tokyo to become Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence. Sometime after 1952, Riley was still serving in the far east, Korea, with intelligence.
On January 16, 1954, Riley was sent home for reassignment. It is unclear when he retired from the military,. Riley and Helen moved to 301 Crestline Drive, San Francisco, California.
On September 11, 1963, Riley passed away from heart failure at home. He was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California. Section OSA, Row 112, Site 1. January 27, 1974, his wife, Helen, passed away from Bronchial Pneumonia. She was buried beside her career military husband. They had no children to pass on the family name.
Riley was an interesting man who saw serving his country was his true calling.
…Until Next Time
