The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, 1LT Riley Copeland Gazzaway, O-1998475, who died in the service of his country on January 3rd, 1951 in South Korea. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Riley was 32 years of age. He was from Paragould, Arkansas. Riley's Military Occupation Specialty was 1542.
The decorations earned by 1LT Riley Copeland Gazzaway include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
First Lieutenant Gazzaway was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on January 3, 1951. First Lieutenant Gazzaway was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
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RILEY C. GAZZAWAY
First Lt. Riley C. Gazzaway, 32, a 1937 graduate of Happy High School, was killed in action Jan. 1, in Korea. He had been serving in Korea since the beginning of the war, having been shipped to Tokyo, Japan, in September. Word of his death was received in Happy Wednesday. Gazzaway had served in the Army for more than 11 years, having enlisted Feb. 17, 1939. He was awarded ten medals during the war, receiving three decorations within one month. He was outstanding among the 104th (Timberwolf) Division of the
9th Army.
Many times he risked his life to protect and rescue his comrades. On Oct. 26, 1944, Sgt. Gazzaway seized a jeep, mounted with a 50 caliber machine gun, and raced over flat, open terrain under steady enemy fire and stationed himself in an exposed position, and turned the machine gun on enemy positions and fired steadily into their midst until his ammunition was exhausted. He then directed
artillery barrages upon the enemy by means of radio with which the jeep also was equipped. This outstanding display of courage and valor won for him the bronze star.
He is survived by his widow, Wilma, two sons, Larry 7, and R C. Jr. of Paragould, Ark. Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Gazzaway of Canyon; five brothers, Bob and Clinton, Happy, Bill of Canyon, Nelson of Premont, and G. R Jr. of St. Louis, and four sisters, Mrs. Gladston Davis, Mrs. Jack Banard, and Mrs. Van Pennington, all of Canyon, and Mrs. H. B. Owens of St.
Louis.
The Tulia Herald, 1 February 1951
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LT. RILEY C. GAZZAWAY
The body of Lt. Riley C. Gazzaway of Happy arrived in San Francisco Monday according to a telegram received by his widow, who is visiting in Canyon and Happy. The body was among 451 war dead who had been killed in Korea. It will be shipped to San Antonio and from there will be forwarded
to Happy for interment. No time has been set for its rrival, which will be in about 30 days.
Lt. Gazzaway, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Gazzaway of Canyon, was killed in Korea Jan. 3, near Seoul. He had served since the outbreak of the war in Korea and was a veteran of 11 years in the Army. He was 32 years old.
He enlisted in 1939 and received 10 medals during WWII, three of the decorations coming within one month. He was considered one of the outstanding officers in the 104th (Timberwolf) division of the 9th Army.
He was a graduate of Happy High School. Besides his parents, Lt. Gazzaway is survived by his wife, Wilma of Paragould, Ark; and two sons, Larry, 8, and R C., 7; five brothers, Bob and Clinton of Happy, Bill of Canyon, Nelson of Fremont, and G. R Jr. of St. Louis; four sisters, Mrs. Gladston Davis, Mrs. Jack Barnard, and Mrs. Van Pennington, all of Canyon; and Mrs. H. B. Owens, St. Louis.
The Tulia Herald, 26 July 1951
Burial::
Happy Cemetery
Happy
Swisher County
Texas, USA
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