Donald Rudolph
Encyclopedia
Donald Eugene Rudolph, Sr. (c. 1921 - May 25, 2006) was an American soldier who received his country's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor
, in World War II.
island in the northern Philippines
; his actions took place on February 5, 1945.
Whilst giving first aid on the battlefield he noticed that his unit was pinned down by gun fire from a ditch. Crawling to the ditch, using his rifle and grenades to protect himself, he then killed three enemy soldiers concealed there. He then continued to work his way across open ground to a line of pillboxes that were also firing and immobilising his company.
He threw a grenade into the slit in the first of the pillboxes, and charged it and threw another grenade into the structure, killing the enemy machinegunners and so silencing their fire. After ordering several riflemen to cover his advance he proceeded to attack and neutralise 7 further pillboxes in quick succession.
Later, when a tank attacked his platoon he advanced under covering fire, opened its hatch and dropped a white phosphorus grenade inside, killing the crew and negating its threat. His medal citation concludes that through "his outstanding heroism, superb courage, and leadership, and complete disregard for his own safety, [...] Rudolph cleared a path for an advance which culminated in one of the most decisive victories of the Philippine campaign.".
He was promoted to Second Lieutenant after the battle, and was presented with the medal on August 23, 1945 by President Harry S. Truman
. He continued his army career until 1963, then worked in the Veterans Administration
until his retirement in 1976.
He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease
in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
US Hwy 7 north from Highway 169 to Bigfork, MN is known as the Donald Rudolph Medal-of-honor Scenic Byway. A commemorative site is available several miles up the highway.
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, in World War II.
Biography
He was awarded the medal while serving as a sergeant and acting as leader of his platoon on LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
island in the northern Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
; his actions took place on February 5, 1945.
Whilst giving first aid on the battlefield he noticed that his unit was pinned down by gun fire from a ditch. Crawling to the ditch, using his rifle and grenades to protect himself, he then killed three enemy soldiers concealed there. He then continued to work his way across open ground to a line of pillboxes that were also firing and immobilising his company.
He threw a grenade into the slit in the first of the pillboxes, and charged it and threw another grenade into the structure, killing the enemy machinegunners and so silencing their fire. After ordering several riflemen to cover his advance he proceeded to attack and neutralise 7 further pillboxes in quick succession.
Later, when a tank attacked his platoon he advanced under covering fire, opened its hatch and dropped a white phosphorus grenade inside, killing the crew and negating its threat. His medal citation concludes that through "his outstanding heroism, superb courage, and leadership, and complete disregard for his own safety, [...] Rudolph cleared a path for an advance which culminated in one of the most decisive victories of the Philippine campaign.".
He was promoted to Second Lieutenant after the battle, and was presented with the medal on August 23, 1945 by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. He continued his army career until 1963, then worked in the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
until his retirement in 1976.
He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,764 people, 3,446 households, and 1,943 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,057.8 people per square mile . There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile...
and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Fort Snelling National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It encompasses , and as of April 24, 2007 had 172,001 interments.- History :...
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
US Hwy 7 north from Highway 169 to Bigfork, MN is known as the Donald Rudolph Medal-of-honor Scenic Byway. A commemorative site is available several miles up the highway.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II