COMMANDER JOHN LAWRENCE RIEHELDAFFER, U.S. NAVY (RETIRED)
 
          Commander Riheldaffer was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, September 24, 1889.  He attended the Wheeling High School before being appointed to the Naval Academy from West Virginia in July 1906.  He graduated in June 1910 and, after completion of two years' sea duty, required by law at that time before commissioning was commissioned Ensign to rank from March 7, 1912.  
     
  Commander Riheldaffer served in the U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA from August 1910 until May 1912, when he was ordered to duty on the Asiatic Station.  In July 1912 he reported to the U.S.S. MONTEREY and in October of that year was transferred to the tender MOHICAN for duty with the Asiatic Submarine Flotilla.  He assumed command of U.S.S. A-6 in November 1912 and, after returning to the United States, reported on August 4, 1915 at Hancock, Michigan, for temporary duty in the U.S.S. YANTIC during the Naval Militia cruise.  Upon completion of that duty he established and later assumed charge of the Navy Recruiting Station, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  
     
          In July 1917, during the World War, he joined the U.S.S. NEW ORLEANS, operating with Squadron Two, Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet, and served as her navigator until November of that year when he was detached to duty in connection with fitting out the U.S.S. KIMBERLY, then building at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts.  He served in the KIMBNERLY from her commissioning on April 26, 1918, until September 1918.  
     
          Commander Riheldaffer had duty at the Naval Ordnance Plant, South Charleston, West Virginia, from October 1918 until April 1920.  In May of that year he joined the U.S.S. TACOMA, in the Canal Zone, Serving in her as Executive Officer until October 1921.  
     
          On December 5, 1921 Commander Riheldaffer was transferred to the Retired List of the Navy in the rank of Lieutenant Commander, by reason of physical disability incident to the service, and relived of all active duty.  
     
          In January 1941 he was recalled to active duty and on January 15 assumed charge of the Special Activities Branch, Intelligence Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. - In March 1943 and in November 1944 he had brief temporary duty with the U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.  
     
          Commander Riheldaffer has the Victory Medal, Escort clasp, (U.S.S. NEW ORLEANS); the American Defense Service Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal.  
     
     

 

     

   
Commander John Lawrence Riheldaffer, U.S. Navy(Retired)  Page 2
 
          His official address is C/O Charleston National Bank, Charleston, West Virginia.  
     
          After April 1, 1945 his home address will be "Penny Acres" Boyds, Montgomery County, Maryland.  
     
     
 
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          Before returning to active duty, Commander Riheldaffer was in charge of the Frigidare Division of General Motors, Overseas Operations, and in this capacity traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, India and the Far East from 1928 until 1941.  
     
     
 
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  3/20/45