John K. Rice was a United States (U.S.) Army officer. He enlisted in 1916 and rose to rank of sergeant on the Mexican border with Company E, 1st Infantry Regiment, Minnesota National Guard. He was comissioned a 2nd lieutenant in October 1917 and assigned to the 36th Infantry Regiment. Rice was promoted to 1st lieutenant in November 1917 and assigned to 5th Infantry Regiment and sailed with them to Germany in 1919 and joined the American Forces in Germany in October 1919. Rice was promoted to captain in July 1920 and returned to the U.S. in 1922 to become a company commander in the 5th Infantry Regiment until 1924. He was a student and instructor at the Infantry School from 1924 to 1930 and an assistant professor of military science at Lehigh University, 1930-1935. After promotion to major in August 1935, he was assigned to the Washington Provisional Brigade, 1936-1939 and became the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 1939-1941. From 1942 to 1943 Rice had command assignments with the 38th, 35th and 78th Infantry Divisions. In 1944 he saw combat with the 78th Infantry Division in Belgium and Germany as part of the 1st and 9th Armies. After the war he had command assignments at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; with the 12th Infantry Division in the Philippines; with the Counter Intelligence Corps at Fort Holabird, Maryland; and as chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), Italy. Rice retired from military service in 1953.
From the description of John K. Rice photograph collection. 1916-1952. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 49223381
