531:, from 19 to February 21, 1945. Quick to press the advantage after eight Japanese had been driven from a blockhouse on D-Day, Private First Class Ruhl singlehandedly attacked the group, killing one of the enemy with his bayonet and another by rifle fire in his determined attempt to annihilate the escaping troops. Cool and undaunted as the fury of hostile resistance steadily increased throughout the night, he voluntarily left the shelter of his tank trap early in the morning of D-Day plus 1 and moved out under tremendous volume of mortar and machine-gun fire to rescue a wounded Marine lying in an exposed position approximately forty yards forward of the line. Half pulling and half carrying the wounded man, he removed him to a defoliated position, called for an assistant and a stretcher and, again running the gauntlet of hostile fire, carried the casualty to an Aid Station some three hundred yards distant on the beach. Returning to his platoon, he continued his valiant efforts, volunteering to investigate an apparently abandoned Japanese gun emplacement seventy-five yards forward of the flank during consolidation of the front lines, and subsequently occupying the position through the night to prevent the enemy form repossessing the valuable weapon. Pushing forward in the assault against the vast network of fortifications surrounding Mt. Suribachi the following morning, he crawled with his platoon guide to the top of a Japanese bunker to bring fire to bear on enemy troops located on the far side of the bunker, suddenly a hostile grenade landed between the two Marines. Instantly Private First Class Ruhl called a warning to his fellow Marine and dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the full impact of the shattering explosion in his own body and protecting all within range from the danger of flying fragments although he might easily have dropped from his position on the edge of the bunker to the ground below. An indomitable fighter, Private First Class Ruhl rendered heroic service toward to defeat of a ruthless enemy, and his valor, initiative and unfaltering spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
480:, crawled to the top of a Japanese bunker to bring fire to bear on enemy troops located on the far side of the bunker. Suddenly a hostile grenade landed between the two Marines. Calling a warning to Hansen, Ruhl instantly dove on the grenade and absorbed the full charge of the explosion with his body. His action not only saved Hansen but also prevented the grenade fragments from wounding other nearby Marines. Rather than using his position on the edge of the bunker to easily drop down into a more protected spot, he sacrificed his life to save his fellow Marines.
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Half carrying and half pulling the wounded man, Ruhl removed him to a position out of reach of enemy rifles. Calling for an assistant and a stretcher, he again braved the heavy fire to carry the casualty 300 yards (270 m) back to an aid station on the beach. Returning to his outfit, he
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From 1937 to about May 1942, the blue-eyed, brown-haired youth worked as a general farm hand on a 400-acre (1.6 km) farm in Joilet. His wages were $ 15 a week, room and board and, as the farm had no mechanical labor, he worked hard for his pay. In the spring of 1942, shortly before his
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volunteered to investigate an apparently abandoned
Japanese gun emplacement seventy-five yards forward of the right flank. Subsequently, he occupied the position through the night thus preventing the enemy from again taking possession of the valuable weapon.
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in
September 1943. In October, the unit which was now Company L, 3rd Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, I Marine Amphibious Corps, boarded ship and moved on to the newly won
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The next morning, D-plus two, Company E, 2nd
Battalion, 28th Marines pushed forward in the assault against the vast network of fortifications surrounding the base of
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at Iwo was
February 19, 1945. On that day, Ruhl single-handedly attacked a group of eight Japanese who had been driven from a blockhouse. Killing one with his
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Ruhl was initially buried in the 5th Marine
Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, but was later reinterred in Donald J. Ruhl Memorial Cemetery in Greybull, Wyoming.
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in an
Assault Platoon of Company E, Twenty-eight Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese Forces on Iwo Jima,
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a
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fire to rescue a wounded Marine lying in an exposed position about forty yards forward of the front lines.
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and a posthumous recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Ruhl, a
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The Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Ruhl and presented to his parents on
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654:"PFC Donald J. Ruhl, Medal of Honor, 1945, 28/5, Iwo Jima (Medal of Honor citation)"
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Ruhl left the United States once more on September 19, 1944, aboard the
632:"Private First Class Donald Jack Ruhl, USMCR, Medal of Honor recipient"
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graduation, he went to work for the Independent Refining Company of
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After six months of training at New Caledonia, his unit sailed for
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638:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. September 18, 2003
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660:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
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when the Parachute units were disbanded on February 21, 1944.
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takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima
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United States Marine Corps personnel killed in World War II
590:"125 Montana Newsmakers: Medal of Honor Winners (2nd page)"
472:. During the advance, Ruhl with his platoon guide Sergeant
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The 3rd Parachute Battalion saw its first combat there at
685:"Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl, USMCR, (1923–1945)"
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raised the American flag on the top of Mount Suribachi
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
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for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
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US Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1923–1945)
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Donald J. Ruhl, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
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564:List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
304:joined Company C, 3rd Parachute Battalion of the
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695:(NHC), Department of the Navy. Archived from
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478:raising an American flag on Mount Suribachi
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229:(July 2, 1923 – February 21, 1945) was a
719:Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients
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323:on March 12, 1943, as a 60-millimeter
797:United States Marine Corps reservists
438:carried the Marines to the shores of
241:to protect fellow Marines during the
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693:Naval History & Heritage Command
658:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
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516:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
513:PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DONALD J. RUHL
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636:Who's who in Marine Corps history
446:Medal of Honor action on Iwo Jima
617: This article incorporates
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411:in January 1945. After stops at
315:Ruhl went overseas on board the
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507:President of the United States
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782:People from Columbus, Montana
169:2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
90:Donald Jack Ruhl Cemetery,
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623:United States Marine Corps
483:Two days later, Company E
287:recruit depot in San Diego
281:on September 12, 1942, in
131:United States Marine Corps
337:the realm of King Neptune
237:, received the award for
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111:United States of America
501:Medal of Honor citation
164:3rd Parachute Battalion
792:Deaths by hand grenade
619:public domain material
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762:United States Marines
699:on September 22, 2007
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327:crewman. En route to
273:Marine Corps training
190:Bougainville campaign
137:Years of service
279:Marine Corps Reserve
239:falling on a grenade
231:United States Marine
594:Great Falls Tribune
387:5th Marine Division
370:World War II combat
364:Bougainville Island
306:3rd Marine Division
298:private first class
292:Upon completion of
277:He enlisted in the
235:private first class
173:5th Marine Division
154:Private First Class
772:Battle of Iwo Jima
243:Battle of Iwo Jima
195:Battle of Iwo Jima
492:Greybull, Wyoming
360:Southern Solomons
255:Columbus, Montana
253:Ruhl was born in
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703:November 4,
689:U.S. People
642:November 5,
459:machine gun
344:Guadalcanal
302:parachutist
261:, in 1942.
249:Early years
167:Company E,
741:Categories
599:August 27,
575:References
394:USAT
380:USAT
99:Allegiance
49:1923-07-02
429:USS
405:USS
348:USS
317:USS
294:boot camp
140:1942–1945
542:See also
525:Rifleman
440:Iwo Jima
421:Eniwetok
413:Honolulu
407:Missoula
117:Service/
72:Iwo Jima
668:May 31,
455:bayonet
436:LST-481
431:LST-481
333:equator
201:†
425:Saipan
419:, and
325:mortar
211:Awards
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451:D-Day
730:2007
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