Page 40 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine
P. 40
by Larry Williams
in 1962, I was sent to Ft. Leonard Code of Justice, and more. We were
Wood, MO, where I learned taken out on the water on an LST
to shoot any weapon up to a (Landing Ship, Tank) and landed
.50 caliber machine gun. I also on the beach—my first time on
learned to place booby traps and any beach. We were also taught
was trained in demolitions. After hand-to-hand combat and chemical
eight weeks of basic, I went to AIT warfare. I oversaw the truck drivers
(Advanced Infantry Training) at Ft. in the battalion—a great bunch of
Chaffee, AR and was selected to go guys. We laughed a lot and worked
to the Honor Guard, assigned to the hard, and any one of them would
1 Battalion, 3 Infantry, and sent to be in your corner.
rd
st
Fort Myer, VA.”
“On November 22, 1963, I was
The 3 U.S. Infantry is the oldest hauling guys around picking up
rd
active-duty infantry unit in the garbage. When we returned to our
Army, serving our country since unit, I saw some men listening
1784. Traditionally known as to the radio. I thought they were
“The Old Guard,” the unit is goofing off, but one guy said,
dedicated to ceremonial excellence ‘President Kennedy was killed.’
evelland resident Bill Riley in the nation’s capital. The 3 I couldn’t believe it was true. We
rd
was an eyewitness witness to is responsible for escorting the were all ordered back to the base.
Lone of the most tragic scenes president and providing security The phones were ringing off the
in American history. More on that for Washington, D.C. in times wall.”
crucial event to follow. of national emergencies or civil
William Joseph Riley was born on disturbance. Old Guard soldiers President Kennedy’s body was
brought back to D.C. on November
July 6, 1944—the oldest of seven also maintain a 24-hour vigil at 23, 1963. A huge crowd two miles
children born to Ruth Riley. His the Tomb of the Unknowns and long had assembled and remained
father was not around much, so he provide military funeral escorts that size until the funeral. The flag-
was raised by his grandfather and at Arlington National Cemetery. draped coffin was carried into the
grandmother. His mother was a It was there that Bill Riley was an East Room of the White House and
factory worker and a barmaid. eyewitness to history. taken to the Capitol Rotunda to lie
“I grew up near Carthage IL Bill wistfully noted, “I was one in repose. A quarter million people
and started working odd jobs inch too short to be a Tomb Guard passed through during the allotted
while in high school. I chopped or in the Drill Platoon, so I was 18 hours to pay their respects. “My
wood, sawed logs, picked fruit, assigned as a truck dispatcher and First Sergeant said, ‘Riley, put on
did garbage pickup, tore down eventually became the Motor Pool your dress blues. Take your troops
old houses, and worked for my Sergeant and Squad Leader. We to the Rotunda and line them
grandfather—anything to make oversaw all vehicles—jeeps, trucks, up down Pennsylvania Ave. The
some money. and buses. In June 1963, I attended caisson processed to the Church
the NCO Academy at Fort Eustis, of St. Matthew the Apostle. We
“I joined the Army in December VA for four weeks, where I learned then moved over by the Lincoln
1961, at age 17. After graduation about Code of Conduct, Military Memorial and stood along the
40 Lubbock Senior Link
