World War II Database

Contributor: David Stubblebine

ww2dbaseRuben Rivers was born in 1918 in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, United States to an African-American father and a Cherokee mother. Ruben worked on the family farm where he lived with his parents and 11 siblings. As a young man, Rivers had a job with a railroad before entering the Army in 1942.

ww2dbaseRivers trained with a tank battalion at Camp Claiborne in Louisiana, United States. Due to the segregation of the military at that time, Rivers served in an all-black unit. He was part of Company A of the 761st Tank Battalion, who would later become known as the "Black Panthers." According to Army reviews of the time, the 761st was one of the best tank units in stateside service.

ww2dbaseBy the time of the battalion's deployment, Rivers had advanced to staff sergeant and commanded a tank platoon. They arrived in England, United Kingdom in Sep 1944 where General George S. Patton requested them for his Third Army. The battalion was re-equipped with the newest version of the M4A3 Sherman tanks with upgraded 76-millimeter guns. Rivers and the rest of his unit arrived in France in Oct 1944 where they joined the United States Army's 26th Infantry Division.

ww2dbaseIn Nov 1944, the division was advancing toward the Siegfried Line as part of the Saar Campaign. While attacking with infantry near Vic-sur-Seille, France on 8 Nov 1944, Rivers' tank platoon was stalled by a makeshift roadblock and came under intense enemy fire. Rivers, in the lead tank, quickly dismounted to help direct infantry fire. Then, while under fire, he connected a cable to the tree trunks blocking the road, used his tank to pull the trees out of the roadway, and continued advancing his column forward. For these actions, Rivers was awarded the Silver Star.

ww2dbaseLess than two weeks later, the Black Panthers were again in heavy combat that lasted several days. While advancing on German positions outside Guébling, France, Rivers' tank hit a mine and was disabled. Despite his leg being slashed to the bone, Rivers refused medical evacuation. Instead, he took command of a different tank and pressed on.

ww2dbaseContinuing their advance, on 19 Nov 1944 the battalion came under intense German anti-tank fire east of Bourgaltroff, France. When ordered to retreat, Rivers instead told his company commander that he was engaging the German tanks firing on the American column. Along with another tank, Rivers opened fire on the enemy positions, putting up a barrage that covered the successful withdrawal of the remaining men. During this exchange, however, the turret of Rivers' tank took a direct hit and Rivers was killed. For Rivers' successful delaying action that saved other members of his company at the cost of his own life, Rivers' company commander, Captain David Williams, recommended Rivers for the Medal of Honor. Rivers was posthumously awarded his Silver Star from Vic-sur-Seille and also a Purple Heart, but the recommendation for the Medal of Honor was ignored. Rivers was buried in the American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.

ww2dbaseCaptain Williams often described the men of the 761st as special, but said Rivers was a cut above. He never forgot Rivers and his bravery, and he did not want the Army to forget him either. Beginning in 1993, the Army began to review the actions of several African-American soldiers from World War II. A total of 433 Medals of Honor had been awarded in World War II, but not a single one had gone to an African-American. The recommendation for Rivers' Medal of Honor was among those that came up for considered in 1993. In 1997, Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, fifty-three years after his acts of heroism. Rivers' case was unusual in that, unlike the each of the other cases the Army reviewed, Rivers had not first been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. On 13 Jan 1997, President Bill Clinton presented Rivers' Medal of Honor to Rivers' sister, Mrs. Grace Woodfork, with Captain Williams in attendance.

ww2dbaseRuben Rivers' Silver Star citation:

ww2dbaseRuben Rivers' Medal of Honor citation:

Ruben Rivers Interactive Map

Photographs

Ruben Rivers Timeline