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John Roman Ruth |
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Engagements: • Korean War (1950 - 1953) |
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| Biography: | ||||
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John Roman Ruth In March 1951, Sergeant John Roman Ruth was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea. On 5 March, SGT Ruth's was seriously wounded while fighting the enemy in South Korea. He returned to duty on 26 March 1951. On 25 May 1951, SGT Ruth's actions in battle with the enemy earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal. On 27 May, SGT Ruth's unit was engaged with enemy forces at at Inje, South Korea. As leader of one of two squads assigned the mission of securing Hill 592, SGT Ruth and his squad were approaching the objective when they came under heavy mortar fire that killed two members of his squad. Despite this fire, he led his men forward and as he and two other members of his squad gained the crest of the hill, they were met by automatic-weapons and grenade fire of a well-entrenched enemy force on the reverse slope of the hill. Although wounded, SGT Ruth rushed toward the enemy while firing an automatic rifle. When he had fired all his ammunition he continued to advance, throwing grenades and rocks until he fell mortally wounded. SGT Ruth's heroic action was chiefly responsible for the subsequent capture of the hill by the remainder of the two squads. After the action, 23 enemy dead were found in the immediate vicinity of SGT Ruth's advance. SGT Ruth's extraordinary heroism and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.Medals, Awards and Badges Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross Citation The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John R. Ruth (ASN: ER-17227905), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant Ruth distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Inje, Korea, on 27 May 1951. As the leader of one of two squads assigned the mission of securing Hill 592, Sergeant Ruth and his squad were approaching the objective when they came under heavy mortar fire which killed two members of his squad. Despite this fire, he led his men forward. As he and two other members of his squad gained the crest of the hill, they were met by automatic-weapons and grenade fire of an enemy force well entrenched on the reverse slope of the hill. Although painfully wounded, he rushed toward the enemy, firing an automatic rifle as he advanced. When he had fired all his ammunition he continued to advance, throwing grenades and rocks until he fell mortally wounded. Sergeant Ruth's heroic action was chiefly responsible for the subsequent capture of the hill by the remainder of the two squads. After the action 23 enemy dead were found in the immediate vicinity of Sergeant Ruth's advance. Sergeant Ruth's indomitable courage and inspiring leadership are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service. General Orders: Department of the Army: General Orders No. 89 (October 3, 1952) Burial Sergeant John Roman Ruth is buried at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Denver County, CO, in Section H, Site 337. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1144377 |
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| Honoree ID: 215111 | Created by: MHOH | |||
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