Donald was the son of Meredith Louis Ridlen and Ruth Belle (Crider) Ridlen.
He was attending Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was a member of the Southeastern Union Church, and Boy Scouts of America.
He followed his two older brothers into service on September 15, 1947. Taking basic training at Fort Knox, (Kentucky), his port of embarkation to Korea was through Seattle, Washington. In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division.
After a year of service and having found out his true age, the army was sending him to Seoul, Korea to be returned home. Donald never made it to Seoul as the train that he was riding on was involved in a train wreck where he and 33 others were killed.
His body was returned to the USA, and was buried next to his great grandparents, Lewis Crider and Mahala Clarissa (Hammons) Crider on September 20, 1948, at the age of 16y, 11m, and 3d.
==========
Donald M. Ridlen, Victim, of Korean Train, to Be Buried
Recruit Donald M. Ridlen, 17, 3514 Prospect St., who was killed September 14 in the wreck of a train that was returning from rest camp to Seoul, Korea, will be buried Monday in New crown Cemetery following services at 2 p.m. in the Tolin Funeral Home.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen had attended Arsenal Technical High School, and was a member of the Southeastern Union Church. He entered the service in September 15, 1947.
Survives are the mother, Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, Indianapolis; his father Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948
-----
Arrange Services For Donald Ridlen
Victim of Korean Train Wreck
Services for Recruit Donald Ridlen, Son of Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, 3514 Prospect St., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Roy Tolin Funeral Home. Burial will be in New Crown Cemetery. Seventeen - year old Recruit Ridlen was killed in a troop train wreck in Korea Sept. 14, 1948 in which 33 others met death and many others were injured.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen attended Technical High School and was a former Scout here. He was a member of the Southeastern Union Church.
Enlisting Sept. 15, 1947, Recruit Ridlen too armored basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and was sent to Korea through Seattle, Wash., port of embar...tion.
In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division. His two-year enlistment would have been up in September of next year.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his father, Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, Indianapolis, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948]
He was attending Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was a member of the Southeastern Union Church, and Boy Scouts of America.
He followed his two older brothers into service on September 15, 1947. Taking basic training at Fort Knox, (Kentucky), his port of embarkation to Korea was through Seattle, Washington. In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division.
After a year of service and having found out his true age, the army was sending him to Seoul, Korea to be returned home. Donald never made it to Seoul as the train that he was riding on was involved in a train wreck where he and 33 others were killed.
His body was returned to the USA, and was buried next to his great grandparents, Lewis Crider and Mahala Clarissa (Hammons) Crider on September 20, 1948, at the age of 16y, 11m, and 3d.
==========
Donald M. Ridlen, Victim, of Korean Train, to Be Buried
Recruit Donald M. Ridlen, 17, 3514 Prospect St., who was killed September 14 in the wreck of a train that was returning from rest camp to Seoul, Korea, will be buried Monday in New crown Cemetery following services at 2 p.m. in the Tolin Funeral Home.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen had attended Arsenal Technical High School, and was a member of the Southeastern Union Church. He entered the service in September 15, 1947.
Survives are the mother, Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, Indianapolis; his father Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948
-----
Arrange Services For Donald Ridlen
Victim of Korean Train Wreck
Services for Recruit Donald Ridlen, Son of Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, 3514 Prospect St., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Roy Tolin Funeral Home. Burial will be in New Crown Cemetery. Seventeen - year old Recruit Ridlen was killed in a troop train wreck in Korea Sept. 14, 1948 in which 33 others met death and many others were injured.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen attended Technical High School and was a former Scout here. He was a member of the Southeastern Union Church.
Enlisting Sept. 15, 1947, Recruit Ridlen too armored basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and was sent to Korea through Seattle, Wash., port of embar...tion.
In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division. His two-year enlistment would have been up in September of next year.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his father, Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, Indianapolis, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948]
Donald was the son of Meredith Louis Ridlen and Ruth Belle (Crider) Ridlen.
He was attending Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was a member of the Southeastern Union Church, and Boy Scouts of America.
He followed his two older brothers into service on September 15, 1947. Taking basic training at Fort Knox, (Kentucky), his port of embarkation to Korea was through Seattle, Washington. In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division.
After a year of service and having found out his true age, the army was sending him to Seoul, Korea to be returned home. Donald never made it to Seoul as the train that he was riding on was involved in a train wreck where he and 33 others were killed.
His body was returned to the USA, and was buried next to his great grandparents, Lewis Crider and Mahala Clarissa (Hammons) Crider on September 20, 1948, at the age of 16y, 11m, and 3d.
==========
Donald M. Ridlen, Victim, of Korean Train, to Be Buried
Recruit Donald M. Ridlen, 17, 3514 Prospect St., who was killed September 14 in the wreck of a train that was returning from rest camp to Seoul, Korea, will be buried Monday in New crown Cemetery following services at 2 p.m. in the Tolin Funeral Home.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen had attended Arsenal Technical High School, and was a member of the Southeastern Union Church. He entered the service in September 15, 1947.
Survives are the mother, Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, Indianapolis; his father Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948
-----
Arrange Services For Donald Ridlen
Victim of Korean Train Wreck
Services for Recruit Donald Ridlen, Son of Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, 3514 Prospect St., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Roy Tolin Funeral Home. Burial will be in New Crown Cemetery. Seventeen - year old Recruit Ridlen was killed in a troop train wreck in Korea Sept. 14, 1948 in which 33 others met death and many others were injured.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen attended Technical High School and was a former Scout here. He was a member of the Southeastern Union Church.
Enlisting Sept. 15, 1947, Recruit Ridlen too armored basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and was sent to Korea through Seattle, Wash., port of embar...tion.
In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division. His two-year enlistment would have been up in September of next year.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his father, Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, Indianapolis, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948]
He was attending Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was a member of the Southeastern Union Church, and Boy Scouts of America.
He followed his two older brothers into service on September 15, 1947. Taking basic training at Fort Knox, (Kentucky), his port of embarkation to Korea was through Seattle, Washington. In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division.
After a year of service and having found out his true age, the army was sending him to Seoul, Korea to be returned home. Donald never made it to Seoul as the train that he was riding on was involved in a train wreck where he and 33 others were killed.
His body was returned to the USA, and was buried next to his great grandparents, Lewis Crider and Mahala Clarissa (Hammons) Crider on September 20, 1948, at the age of 16y, 11m, and 3d.
==========
Donald M. Ridlen, Victim, of Korean Train, to Be Buried
Recruit Donald M. Ridlen, 17, 3514 Prospect St., who was killed September 14 in the wreck of a train that was returning from rest camp to Seoul, Korea, will be buried Monday in New crown Cemetery following services at 2 p.m. in the Tolin Funeral Home.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen had attended Arsenal Technical High School, and was a member of the Southeastern Union Church. He entered the service in September 15, 1947.
Survives are the mother, Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, Indianapolis; his father Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948
-----
Arrange Services For Donald Ridlen
Victim of Korean Train Wreck
Services for Recruit Donald Ridlen, Son of Mrs. Ruth B. Ridlen, 3514 Prospect St., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Roy Tolin Funeral Home. Burial will be in New Crown Cemetery. Seventeen - year old Recruit Ridlen was killed in a troop train wreck in Korea Sept. 14, 1948 in which 33 others met death and many others were injured.
Born in Indianapolis, Recruit Ridlen attended Technical High School and was a former Scout here. He was a member of the Southeastern Union Church.
Enlisting Sept. 15, 1947, Recruit Ridlen too armored basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and was sent to Korea through Seattle, Wash., port of embar...tion.
In Korea, he was assigned occupation duty with the Seventh Infantry Division. His two-year enlistment would have been up in September of next year.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his father, Meredith L. Ridlen, Lakeport, Cal.; two brothers, Earl L. and Thurman L. Ridlen, Indianapolis, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Crider, Indianapolis.
[Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19, 1948]
Bio by: genealogyfever
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