Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library Listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl, USMCR, (1923-1945)
Donald Jack Ruhl was born on 2 July 1923 in Columbus, Montana.
He graduated from high school there and worked as a laboratory
assistant before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve in September
1942. After recruit and parachute training at San Diego, California,
and promotion to Private First Class, he joined Company C, Third
Parachute Battalion, Third Marine Division. In March 1943 Ruhl
went to the south Pacific and, later in that year, saw combat
during the Bougainville Campaign. In early 1944 he returned to
the United States and transferred to Company E, Second Battalion,
Twenty-eighth Marines, Fifth Marine Division. He returned to the
Pacific Theatre in September 1944.
With his unit, Private First Class Ruhl participated as a Rifleman
during the Battle for Iwo Jima, landing on D-Day, 19 February
1945. During the next two days he demonstrated great bravery and
initiative while attacking Japanese fortifications, scouting ahead
of the lines and rescuing a wounded Marine under heavy fire. During
the morning of 21 February, during an attack on enemy positions
around Mount Surbachi, a grenade landed nearby. Instantly diving
on the grenade, Ruhl absorbed its explosion with his body, sacrificing
himself to save the lives of his fellow Marines. For his "conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty" during the first two days of the bitter
fight for Iwo Jima, he was posthumously awarded the Medal
of Honor. Donald J. Ruhl is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Greybull,
Wyoming.
This page features the only images we have concerning Donald
J. Ruhl.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 103907
Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl, USMCR
Photograph retouched for use in "All Hands" magazine's
June 1947 issue.
Donald J. Ruhl was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously,
for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life" on 19-21 February 1945, during the Battle of Iwo
Jima.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands"
Collection at the Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 36KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 103902
Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl, USMCR
Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official
publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy",
page 254.
Donald J. Ruhl received the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for
"conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life" on 19-21 February 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 63KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
 |
Medal of Honor citation of Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl,
USMCR (as printed in the official publication "Medal
of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 254):
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as
a Rifleman in an Assault Platoon with Company E, Twenty-eighth
Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against the enemy Japanese
forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 to 21 February 1945.
Quick to press the advantage after eight Japanese had been driven
from a blockhouse on D-day, Private First Class Ruhl single-handedly
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
resistence 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 a tremendous volume of mortar and
machine-gun fire to rescue a wounded Marine lying in an exposed
position approximately 40 yards forward of the line. Half pulling
and half carrying the wounded man, he removed him to a difiladed
position, called for an assistant and a stretcher and, again
running the gantlet of hostile fire, carried the casualty to
an aid station some 300 yards distant on the beach. Returning
to his platoon, he continued his valiant efforts, volunteering
to investigate an apparently abandoned Japanese gun emplacement
75 yards forward of the right flank during consolidation of the
front lines, and subsequently occupying the position through
the night to prevent the enemy from repossessing the valuable
weapon. Pushing forward in the assault against the vast network
of fortifications surrounding Mt. Surbachi 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 betwen 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 the 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 the defeat
of a ruthless enemy, and his valor, initiative and unfaltering
spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death
sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 12 July 2006
New image added and text revised 30 September 2006