Cover photo for Herbert Lisle Rives's Obituary
Herbert Lisle Rives Profile Photo
1922 Herbert 2017

Herbert Lisle Rives

July 22, 1922 — March 30, 2017

Herbert Lisle Rives, Jr., son of the late Mr. Herbert Lisle Rives, Sr., and Mrs. Bessie Roberson Rives, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 30, 2017. He was 94.

Throughout his life, Mr. Rives retained the heart of a young man, his spirit unbroken by age. He adventured across the globe, and his excitement and wonder for the world never faded.

Born in Robersonville in eastern North Carolina, Mr. Rives graduated from Oak Ridge Military Academy in May 1942, and enlisted in the United States Army in June of the same year. He was an active duty soldier for 31 years, serving during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

During World War II, he served alongside the 28th Infantry Division’s 110th Regimental combat team, the oldest division-sized unit in the armed forces of the United States. German troops referred to the division as the “Bloody Bucket” because of its blood-red keystone insignia and relentless fighting tactics during the Normandy campaign. The 28th also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Adolf Hitler’s last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the war. The Allies ultimately emerged victorious, winning the largest battle waged on the Western front during World War II, and the largest battle every fought by the U.S. Army.

Mr. Rives also served three tours in Korea, and two tours during Vietnam as an adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the ground forces of the South Vietnamese Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart among several other medals.

Following his service, Mr. Rives retired to Honolulu, buying an home that overlooked Pearl Harbor. He moved to Mount Pleasant in 1985. He accompanied other veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2011, a great thrill that allowed him to rekindle memories, and visit the World War II monument and other memorials.

Mr. Rives is survived by his sister, Mrs. Frances Laughinghouse of Greenville, N.C.; daughters: Julia R. Rabhan and husband, Jay; and Abbie R. Millard, both from Mount Pleasant; and Lisa R. Mauracher and husband, Rob, of Canada; grandchildren: Lisle Millard and wife, Jaime, of McClellanville; Sollee Millard Hadley and husband, Brian, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; great-grandchildren: Chancelor Kim, Julia Millard, Grace Millard and Amelia Hadley; and loving niece Frances R. Young and husband, Robert, of Bethel, N.C.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the team from Hospice of Charleston, as well as the caregivers and staffs of Sandpiper Courtyard, and Sandpiper Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Rives’ honor to Fisher House Charleston, P.O. Box 1678, Charleston, S.C. 29402, or Meals on Wheels of Charleston, 2304 Highway 17 N., Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466, or Bethel Baptist Church, 145 Main Street, Bethel, N.C.

A graveside service will be held at the Bethel Town Cemetery in Bethel, N.C., at 11 a.m. on April 8. Visitation will follow at the home of Frances Young, and husband, Robert.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.

Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Mt Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Road Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464, 843-884-3833.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Herbert Lisle Rives, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 5

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree