Van Riper, Wilbur

Item

Van Riper, Wilbur-Draft Card.png
Van Riper, Wilbur- Headstone.jpeg

Title

Van Riper, Wilbur

Creator

Michelle Kukan

Birth Date

1925-03-24

Birthplace

Airmont, NY

Death Date

1998-07-10

Burial Place

Frederick Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, New Hempstead, NY

Occupation

Truck Driver (McKee Brothers; Ramsey, NJ)
Employee (Ward Brothers; Mahwah, NJ)

Conflict

World War II

Military Branch

Army

Rank

Sergeant

Serial Number

32925574

Service Start Date

1943-06-01

Honors

Purple Heart (2x)

Military Service Description

Wilbur Van Riper was drafted and enlisted into the U.S. Army on 1943-06-01 in Newark, NJ. He served with the Army as an infantryman in North Africa and Italy. He was injured twice during his time in service. In July of 1944, his wrist and shoulder were injured in North Africa. The shrapnel remained in his shoulder for the rest of his life and gave him lead poisoning which was at first misdiagnosed as gout. While in Italy, Van Riper was moved through Sicily and participated in the landing at Naples-Foggia. He aided in the Battle of Monte Cassino after the bombing and shelling. He also fought in Rome. While north of Rome, Sergeant Van Riper was shot in the head by a sniper. His son, Daniel, remembers Van Riper specifying he was hit with a bullet. This injury was treated by a procedure that removes the eye but leaves the muscles of the eye and remaining orbital contents in place. Van Riper was transported to the United States via the USAHS Acadia. He was temporarily hospitalized in Stark General Hospital, Charlestown, SC. He was then transferred to England General Hospital in Atlantic City, NJ, where he underwent an operation for his injured eye. Following his operation in NJ, he was able to stay with his aunt, Mamie Wanamaker and sister, Virginia. These two injuries led to Van Riper receiving two Purple Hearts. Van Riper was designated one-third disabled as a result of his injuries.

Biographical Text

Wilbur W. Van Riper was born on 1925-03-24 to Walter and Elizabeth Van Riper in Airmont, NY. He lived in multiple towns in Rockland County, NY throughout his childhood. He had one older sister: Virginia. He also had two half-brothers: Walter E. and Paul. In 1940, Van Riper was living with his paternal uncle and aunt, George and Mamie Wanamaker. In June of 1940, he graduated from Suffern Junior High. He worked for the Ward Brothers in Mahwah, NJ prior to his Army enlistment. Van Riper lived on Grove Street in Mahwah, NJ. After his discharge from the Army, he worked for the McKee Brothers as a truck driver until his retirement in 1990. He married Annie Radeski in January of 1950 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Mahwah. They remained married until Annie’s death in 1988. The couple had three children: Melanie, William, and Daniel. According to his son, Daniel, Van Riper suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He died on 1998-07-10. He was 73. 

Family Members

Father: Walter

Mother: Elizabeth (née Egnor)

Step-mother: Grace (née Matthaey)

Sibling:
Virginia Mihok (née Van Riper)

Half-Siblings:
Walter E 
Paul E 

Spouse: Annie (née Radeski)

Children:
Melanie 
William
Daniel

Bibliography

"Airmont News," Ramapo Valley Independent, December 28, 1944, p. 2.

"Junior High School and Grammar School Hold Commencements," Ramapo Valley Independent, June 27, 1940, p. 4.

"Names," The Morning Call, September 9, 1944, p. 2.

"Seven Inductees Report," Ramapo Valley Independent, June 10, 1943, p. 2.

"Van Riper Hospitalized," Ramapo Valley Independent, August 3, 1944, p. 2.

"Veteran In Hospital," Ramapo Valley Independent, December 7, 1944, p. 6.

Wilbur Van Riper, 1930 United States Federal Census.

Wilbur Van Riper, 1940 United States Federal Census.

"Wilbur VanRiper, 73: retired truck driver, " The Journal News, July 12, 1998, p.6.

"Wilbur Van Riper," The Record, July 12, 1998, p. 76.

Wilbur Van Riper, New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Index, 1901-2016.

Wilbur Van Riper, New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942.

Wilbur Van Riper, U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

Wilbur Van Riper, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.

Wilbur Van Riper, U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files.

Wilbur W Van Riper, Find a Grave.

Photo Captions

Photo 1: Van Riper's draft card completed on 1943-03-24 in Allendale, NJ

Photo 2: The Van Riper's headstone, Frederick Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, New Hempstead, NY (Find a Grave).

Collection

Veterans

Citation

Michelle Kukan, “Van Riper, Wilbur,” Mahwah Veterans Project, accessed July 2, 2024, https://mahwahmuseum.reclaim.hosting/MVP/items/show/224.