Donald Eugene Rudolph
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
RUDOLPH, Donald Eugene Jr. *** Medal of Honor Recipient ***
Donald Eugene Rudolph, Sr. was born on February 21st 1921 to Orin Blair & Ruth Vivian [Anderson] Rudolph in South Haven, Minnesota.
Mr. Rudolph enlisted for military service on February 17th 1942. He served in World War II in the Pacific Theater for the U.S. Army in the Philippines. He was assigned to Company E, 20th Infantry, 6th Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenent (2LT).
On February 5th 1945, while his company was immobilized by enemy fire, Lt. Rudolph attacked and successfully neutralized enemy soldiers who were in a culvert and then, in quick succession, those in eight enemy pillboxes. Finally, he also successfully attacked an enemy tank, destroying the crew within it.
The language of the Medal of Honor citation reads:
“2d Lt. Rudolph (then T/Sgt.) was acting as platoon leader at Munoz, Luzon, Philippine Islands. While administering first aid on the battlefield, he observed enemy fire issuing from a nearby culvert. Crawling to the culvert with rifle and grenades, he killed 3 of the enemy concealed there. He then worked his way across open terrain toward a line of enemy pillboxes which had immobilized his company. Nearing the first pillbox, he hurled a grenade through its embrasure and charged the position. With his bare hands he tore open the wood and tin covering, then dropped a grenade through the opening, killing the enemy gunners and destroying their machinegun. Ordering several riflemen to cover his further advance, 2d Lt. Rudolph seized a pick mattock and made his way to the second pillbox. Piercing its top with the mattock, he dropped a grenade through the hole, fired several rounds from his rifle into it, and smothered any surviving enemy by sealing the hole and the embrasure with earth. In quick succession he attacked and neutralized 6 more pillboxes. Later, when his platoon was attacked by an enemy tank, he advanced under covering fire, climbed to the top of the tank and dropped a white phosphorus grenade through the turret, destroying the crew. Through his outstanding heroism, superb courage, and leadership, and complete disregard for his own safety, 2d Lt. Rudolph cleared a path for an advance which culminated in one of the most decisive victories of the Philippine Campaign.”
Lt. Rudolph was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman. He was honorably discharged on December 4th 1945. He also re-enlisted on February 2nd 1948 through February 7th 1950 participating in the Korean War.
After the wars, Mr. Rudolph married Helen Victoria and moved to Bovey, Minnesota. He went to multiple Medal of Honor reunion events over the years.
He died on May 5th 2006 in Bovey at the age of 85. He is buried at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rudolph is one of the featured Medal of Honor heroes in artist Tim Cortes' painting 'Forged Under Fire'. Limited edition prints are available through the St. Louis County Historical Society. Forged Under Fire (REPRODUCTION) | slchs (thehistorypeople.org)
Rudolph is one of 6 regional Medal of Honor recipients featured in the book Such Good Men by Alan M. Anderson. Follow the link below for additional information.
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Donald Eugene Rudolph in Social Security Death Index - Fold3
Donald Eugene Rudolph Sr. (1921-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial
Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 - Ancestry.com
