PVT Lynn Dean Rives

Familial History

PVT Lynn Dean Rives was born 17 June 1923 in Hettrick, Macoupin County, Illinois to Emma Marie Tollman and Everett Arthur Rives. He died 26 November 1943 after his transport ship, HMT Rohna was sunk by German bombers off Algeria. His family resided in Madison County, Illinois prior to the war.

Emma Marie Tollman was born 18 December 1880 in Fayette County, Illinois to Elisabeth Holmes and Lewis Alvin Tollman. She passed away 5 April 1944 in Alton, Madison County, and laid to rest next to Everett, Her Memorial # was 25697420. Emma married Everett 15 February 1900 in Greene County, Illinois.

Everett Arthur Rives was born 26 August 1877 in Barr, Macoupin County, to Jemima Deal and George Washington Rives. He died 26 March 1942 in Alton and interred in the Asbury Cemetery, Barr, Macoupin County, Illinois. The Plot was Row 6, and the Memorial #25697462.

The Rives union produced 11 children composed of 5 daughters and 6 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Oliver Rand Rives (24 January 1901-22 July 1961); Elden Keith Rives (2 November 1902-22 September 1988); Opal Gertrude Rives (16 November 1904-26 August 1978); Dale Clyde Rives (17 October 1907-5 March 1974); Letha Pauline Rives (24 July 1909-5 October 1909); Nellie Lucille Rives (15 December 1910-14 December 1978); Eva Deal Rives Cannon (10 June 1914-7 July 1987); Marie Emma Rives (7 September 1916-27 July 1917); Truman Everett Rives (4 September 1918-1 February 1974); Glenn Lewis “Shorty” (Twin) Rives (17 June 1923-19 December 1995); and PVT Lynn Dean (Twin) Rives.

Truman Everett Rives served his country in the US Navy during World War II.

Glenn Lewis “Shorty” (Twin) Rives was a survivor of the HMT Rohna sinking.

Service History:

PVT Lynn Dean Rives registered for the draft 29 June 1942 in Illinois. He was gainfully employed by the Western Cartridge Company, 5’9” in height, and weighed 135 pounds. His mother signed as the next of kin.

He enlisted into the US Army on 11 February 1943 in Peoria, Illinois. Lynn had completed 2 years of high school, was working in a warehouse, single, and without dependents.

After basic training, he was attached to the 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation. His Service Number was 36448001. The US Hospital Admission Card Files indicated his boat was sunk by enemy actions.

The following information was condensed from HISTORY - 853rdAviationEngineers (853rdengineerbattalion.org): The Battalion boarded HMT Rohna 23 November 1943 and quartered in the aft decks 6 - 8 of the ship. The roll call listed 793 officers and men. After a complete day of boarding supplies and troops they departed at 1200 hours on the 24th. The ship was one of five in Convoy KMF-26 Annex. The troops continued to drill concerning boat stations, abandon ship, and other important tasks, during the voyage.

Around 1600 hours on the 26th, an “Alert” alarm sounded, and all troops were ordered below decks while the gun crews and fire-control details were ordered to their stations. Several German twin engine bombers were noted from the southwest and the escort vessels opened fire.

At 1700 hours, the HMT Rohna was hit by a Henschel Hs-293 radio-controlled missile. The He-177a was piloted by Hans Dochtermann and the bomb hit the ship at the water line and all power was lost. The 853rd were quartered near the impact site and due to the blast, fires, and exploding ammunition accounted for most of the dead.

The weather had become difficult, and the sea was producing 15-foot swells. Of the 16 lifeboats only 5 were successfully launched. At 1730 hours, LTC Frolich ordered “Abandon Ship”. The water was very cold, and hypothermia took the lives of many that had successfully escaped the sinking ship. USS Pioneer collected 606 survivors alone. Overall, 1,015 of the 2,000 personnel was lost. Over 100 crewmen also were casualties of the bombing.

For further information concerning the sinking and the US Classification as “Secret”, please open the following hyperlink. Rohna-Classified - TRSMA (rohnasurvivors.org).

PVT Lynn Dean Rives was memorialized in the North African American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia. The Plot was the Tablets of the Missing and the Memorial #56249957.

A CENTOPATH was erected in the Alton National Cemetery, Alton, Madison County, Illinois in his honor. The Plot was Section MA, Site 2, and his Memorial #25698229.

Commendations:

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, PVT Lynn Dean Rives of the US Army Air Corps, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The

author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email address is jchisum@q.com.

Resources:

HISTORY - 853rdAviationEngineers (853rdengineerbattalion.org)

HMT Rohna - Wikipedia

Casualties - TRSMA (rohnasurvivors.org)

Rohna Classified documentary — Rohna Attack Casualty Search

HISTORY - 853rdAviationEngineers (853rdengineerbattalion.org)

Hs-293 radio-controlled - Search (bing.com)

Lynn D Rives in American Battle Monuments Commission - Fold3

PVT Lynn Dean Rives (1923-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial

PVT Lynn Dean Rives (1923-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial

Lynn D Rives : Private from Illinois, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

PV2 Lynn D. Rives (militaryhallofhonor.com)

Casualties - TRSMA (rohnasurvivors.org)