Lt. P. Riordan Killed in Italy, Report Says
Charles City -- Following the first report Friday of the news that Lt. Paul F. Riordan of Kansas City, Mo., son of Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Riordan, was missing in action, word was received by relatives here from his parents that Lt. Riordan had been killed in action in Italy, according to the war department.
The Riordans are former residents of Charles City. Lt. Riordan was a nephew of Lt. R.F. Riordan, Charles City dentist now in service.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, March 20, 1944
HONOR SOLDIER WITH WAR MEDAL
Former Charles City Boy Killed in Italy
Washington (AP) -- A Kansas City officer, 2nd Lt. Paul Riordan, has been awarded the congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his heroism in the desperate fight at Cassino, Italy, the war department announced Saturday. Lt. Riodan was born at Charles City, Iowa, Nov 8, 1920.
Riordan,constantly exposing himself to enemy fire, led his platoon in an attack on a hill outside Cassino last Feb. 3. Spotting a pill box which was firing on his men, Riordan ignoring the bullets, moved in close enough to toss a grenade. He silenced the pill box, killing one and wounding 2 Germans. The platoon then took out 3 boxes and the company captured the hill.
Five days later, with allied forces in the city, Riordan and his men were given the job of taking the Cassino jail which the Germans had converted into a fortress. Intense fire from the building pinned down the platoon, but Riordan succeeded in reaching the building. Although he had no one with him, he entered the jail shooting as he went. He disposed of several of the garrison, but was killed by small arms fire.
The medal was to be given to his father, Herbert F. Riordan, at his home, 4510 Wornal Road, Kansas City, Mo., by Brig Gen William A. Campbell of Fort Leavenworth, at a ceremony Saturday.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, September 23, 1944
Paul Fluent Riordan was born Nov. 8, 1920 to Herbert F. and Orpha Josephine Fluent Riordan. He died Feb. 8, 1944 and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery and Mausoleum, Kansas City, MO.
2nd Lt. Riordan served in World War II with the U.S. Army 34th Infantry Division.
Source: ancestry.com
