If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Brooklyn, New York
Last Address Rolling Hills Estates Los Angeles, Calif.
Reid P. Fiala (Pete) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1931.
He was the commander of the destroyer Remey in October, 1944, when the Japanese navy challenged their American counterparts for control of Leyte Gulf. The Remy was credited with firing the first salvos in the battle that eventually destroyed what was left of the Japanese fleet.
When LCdr Fiala commissioned the Remey he was the last lieutenant commander to command a destroyer. All other skippers that followed him were full commanders. The USS Remey earned 10 battle stars during World War II. Battles included: Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines and Bombardment of Japan.
RAdm. Reid P. Fiala was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in the fight for control of the Surigao Strait in the Philippines and the Bronze Star for battles off Saipan and Tinian during World War II.
Fiala's last command was of the Terminal Island Navy Station in 1958 and retired as a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral in 1959.
Other Comments:
Awards and Citations
While commanding the USS Remey DD-688, Commander Reid Fiala was awarded the Navy Cross, Bronze Star Medal w/Combat "V", and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/10 stars.
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Reid Puryear Fiala, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. REMEY (DD-688), in action against the enemy on 24 and 25 October 1944, in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet during the Battle for Surigao Strait, Philippine Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1944. Within United States Destroyer units deployed in a flanking maneuver as tactically disposed PT boats opened fire on a formidable column of Japanese battleship, cruisers and destroyers advancing under cover of darkness towards our waiting forces, Commander Fiala placed the REMEY in an advantageous striking position within close range of the enemy force. Although silhouetted by the illuminating glare of star shells and under fire, he launched his torpedoes with precise timing in the first sudden coordinated attack, surprised the enemy and rendered him vulnerable to the smashing blows of our Naval units. Subsequently retiring without damage from the furious engagements which resulted in the sinking of two Japanese battleships and three destroyers before effective return fire could be brought to bear upon our Task Force, Commander Fiala by his forceful leadership, contributed materially to the decisive defeat of the enemy force. His courage and devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander Amphibious Forces: Serial 00394 (December 26, 1944) Action Date: October 24 & 25, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Remey (DD-688)
Fiala was awarded the Bronze Star for battles off Saipan and Tinian.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. The United States offensive, under the overall command of Chester Nimitz, followed the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and was intended to neutralize Japanese bases in the central Pacific, support the Allied drive to retake the Philippines, and provide bases for a strategic bombing campaign against Japan.
Beginning the offensive, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces, with support from the United States Navy, executed landings on Saipan in June, 1944. In response, the Imperial Japanese Navy's combined fleet sortied to attack the U.S. Navy fleet supporting the landings. In the resulting aircraft carrier Battle of the Philippine Sea (the so-called “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) on 19–20 June, the Japanese naval forces were decisively defeated with heavy and irreplaceable losses to their carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.
Thereafter, U.S. forces executed landings on Guam and Tinian in July, 1944. After heavy fighting, Saipan was secured in July and Guam and Tinian in August, 1944. The U.S. then constructed airfields on Saipan and Tinian where B-29s were based to conduct strategic bombing missions against the Japanese mainland until the end of World War II, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the meantime, in order to secure the flank for U.S. forces preparing to attack Japanese forces in the Philippines, in September, 1944, U.S. Marine and Army forces landed on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. After heavy and intense combat on Peleliu, the island was finally secured by U.S. forces in November, 1944.
Following their landings in the Mariana and Palau Islands, Allied forces continued their ultimately successful campaign against Japan by landing in the Philippines in October, 1944 and the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands beginning in January, 1945.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories USS Remey earned 10 battle stars during World War II. Battles included: Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines and Bombardment of Japan