Corporal Ruhlman was a member of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action by a land mine while attacking Hill 702 in North Korea on 1 September 1951.

Ruhlman was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.