Indian Johnny Rivers

Name: Indian Johnny Rivers
Alias: John Wallace Rivers
Birth Name: John Rivers
Hometown: Applebachsville, Pennsylvania, USA
Birthplace: Riverside, New Jersey, USA
Died: 1942-08-21 (Age:24)
Height: 170cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

John Rivers was born in Riverside, New Jersey. He had two sisters, Hilda and Elizabeth. Additionally, Bill and Joe Ford were his half brothers. John's family broke up when he was young. He along with the other children were placed in foster care by Lutheran Social Services. Jack (as he was known to his family and close friends) was raised by Dr. Elvin Horne.

It has been said Rivers was known to drive an Indian motorcycle.

"Indian Johnny Rivers" played on the stand out 1936 football team at Quakertown High, Pa. that posted seven shutouts and allowed only twenty points all year. As a rugged well respected fighter representing Bethlehem he fought for the Diamond Belt in Philadelphia.

At Guadalcanal as a machine gunner in the First Marine Division he was killed at the Battle of Tenaru. With bullets swarming all around him Rivers answered the Japanese fire successfully. Sweeping his machine gun back and forth across the approaching enemy, even as he died he squeezed off another 200 rounds before slumping over dead, witnessed by his ammo carrier Al Schmidt and gun commander Cpl. Lou Diamond. Their Browning machine gun accounted for over two hundred of the enemy. Rivers along with the rest of the gun crew were awarded the Navy Cross for heroism.

Source (some) :The Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA USA

It has been reported the Marine Corp map listed the Ilu as a River (more like a tidal lagoon) as the Tenaru.

Rivers is portrayed in the 1945 Warner Brothers film Pride of the Marines [1]