Riseley has been appointed commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines in August 1941 and following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was appointed 8th Marine Regiment's executive officer to Colonel Richard H. Jeschke.
His unit was subsequently attached to the 2nd Marine Division under Major General John Marston and sailed for Pacific during October 1942.

After the brief tour of garrison duty at Samoa, his regiment participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal and Riseley has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his service during the campaign.
He also received his first Navy Presidential Unit Citation.
Riseley followed his regiment back to Wellington, New Zealand, where they were prepared for next combat assignment – Tarawa.

He was subsequently appointed assistant chief of staff and operations officer of the 2nd Marine Division, now under Major General Julian C. Smith and was tasked with the special assignment to experiment with the landing of tanks, amphibious tractors, and rubber boats on coral reefs under various surf conditions.
Information gained in these tests was applied at Tarawa and later landings.
He has been decorated with second Navy Presidential Unit Citation for Tarawa campaign.

Riseley remained in this capacity until December 17, 1943, when he relieved Colonel Maurice G. Holmes as commanding officer of the 6th Marine Regiment.
During the summer of 1944, Colonel Riseley led his regiment ashore during the combats at Saipan and Tinian.
He was subsequently decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and third Navy Presidential Unit Citation for his leadership during the campaign.
However, at the beginning of September 1944, Riseley relinquished his command to Colonel Gregon A. Williams and returned to the United States the following month.

Following his return, Riseley reported to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and subsequently was appointed commanding officer of the marine barracks at Camp Pendleton, California in November 1944.
He remained in this capacity until March 1945, when he attended the Army and Navy Staff College.
Upon the graduation in September 1945, Riseley was assigned to the staff of Fifth Fleet under admiral Raymond A. Spruance as Marine Fleet Officer.
He subsequently participated in the Occupation duties in the Japanese waters until April 1946.
Riseley has been appointed commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines in August 1941 and following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was appointed 8th Marine Regiment's executive officer to Colonel Richard H. Jeschke. His unit was subsequently attached to the 2nd Marine Division under Major General John Marston and sailed for Pacific during October 1942.
After the brief tour of garrison duty at Samoa, his regiment participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal and Riseley has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his service during the campaign. He also received his first Navy Presidential Unit Citation. Riseley followed his regiment back to Wellington, New Zealand, where they were prepared for next combat assignment – Tarawa.
He was subsequently appointed assistant chief of staff and operations officer of the 2nd Marine Division, now under Major General Julian C. Smith and was tasked with the special assignment to experiment with the landing of tanks, amphibious tractors, and rubber boats on coral reefs under various surf conditions. Information gained in these tests was applied at Tarawa and later landings. He has been decorated with second Navy Presidential Unit Citation for Tarawa campaign.
Riseley remained in this capacity until December 17, 1943, when he relieved Colonel Maurice G. Holmes as commanding officer of the 6th Marine Regiment. During the summer of 1944, Colonel Riseley led his regiment ashore during the combats at Saipan and Tinian. He was subsequently decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and third Navy Presidential Unit Citation for his leadership during the campaign. However, at the beginning of September 1944, Riseley relinquished his command to Colonel Gregon A. Williams and returned to the United States the following month.
Following his return, Riseley reported to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and subsequently was appointed commanding officer of the marine barracks at Camp Pendleton, California in November 1944. He remained in this capacity until March 1945, when he attended the Army and Navy Staff College. Upon the graduation in September 1945, Riseley was assigned to the staff of Fifth Fleet under admiral Raymond A. Spruance as Marine Fleet Officer. He subsequently participated in the Occupation duties in the Japanese waters until April 1946.
James P. Riseley