Chief Machinist's Mate George William Rud, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on August 29, 1916 off Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1915 - 1916 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Memphis. Rud was 32 years old.
Rud was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Rud was born on October 7, 1883 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. His Medal of Honor is credited to Minnesota. He is buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while attached to the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffering total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. C.M.M. Rud took his station in the engineroom and remained at his post amidst scalding steam and the rushing of thousands of tons of water into his department, receiving serious burns from which he immediately died.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (August 29, 1916).
- Age at death: 32
- Resting place: Crystal Lake Cemetery
Timeline
- October 7, 1883Born in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
- August 29, 1916Act of valor — off Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicAge 32. U.S.S. Memphis Killed in action.
- Resting placeCrystal Lake CemeteryMinneapolis, Minnesota
