Robert M. Rideout

Captain Robert M. Rideout was killed in action on November 19, 1944 in Germany during World War II.  He was 23 years old. 

Robert M. Rideout was born on September 25, 1921 in Vance County, North Carolina, the son of Thomas Palmer Rideout and Clayra Louvenia Mabry Rideout.  He graduated from Henderson High School in the Class of 1939.

Capt. Rideout was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 16, 1940 and was deployed to the European Theater of War serving with the 115th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division. 

On D-Day, June 6 1944, the 115th was part of the second wave of the assault force that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy.  By June 9, Omaha Beach was secure and the 29th Division occupied Isigny, assigned to  XIX Corps, part of the First Army, itself part of the 12th Army Group.

The 115th experienced slow progress and numerous casualties fighting its way across the hedgerows of Normandy toward its ultimate goal, St. Lo.    During the final move on St. Lo from the 11th through the 22nd of July, the regiment sustained significant casualties. Their participation in the Normandy Campaign continued until it was over on  July 24, 1944.

Part of the Allied plan for the invasion of mainland Europe called for the capture of port facilities, in order to ensure the timely delivery of the enormous amount of war material required to supply the invading Allied forces. In late August, the 115th moved with the rest of the 29th Infantry to assist in the siege of the port city of Brest. In late August, the 115th moved with the rest of the 29th Infantry to assist in the siege of the port city of Brest. The Battle for Brest was one of the fiercest battles fought during Operation Cobra, the Allied breakout of Normandy. The city surrendered on September 18,  and the regiment moved to Maastricht, Holland and then assisted in the campaigns in Germany.

After a short rest, the 29th Division took part in the Battle of Aachen by moving to defensive positions along the Teveren-Geilenkirchen line supporting the 30th Infantry Division in Germany and maintained those positions through October.

On November 16, the division began its drive to the Roer River, blasting its way through Siersdorf, Setterich, Durboslar, and Bettendorf, and reaching the Roer by the end of the month.  Captain Rideout was killed in action on November 19, 1944.

Captain Robert M. Rideout is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Netherlands.  His medals included the Silver Star with oak leaf clusters.

Last edited: 8 June 2026