Grandfather, Father and Uncle

[joeclown]

I am looking for anything at all about these 3 men. Uncle Cecil Ruddock KIA U.S.S. Arizona 12/7/41. Father Edward J. Ruddock U.S. Army wounded N. Africa 32nd Field Artillery. Grandfather Theodore D. Ruddock Vice Admiral USN, 2 Navy Cross etc. Looking for any and all things. All I have is what I have found on the internet so far. Thanks Joe Ruddock

[WW2JAKE]

this is what I found on Cecil. haven't checked on the others yet.

• Name: Cecil Roy Ruddock
• Branch: United States Navy
• Service Number: 274 48 81
• Rate: S1/c (Seaman First Class)
• Duties: Know naval drill duties, knots, steering and signaling. Stand watch and gunnery duties.
• Enlisted: 5 August 1940
• Place: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Onboard USS Arizona: 8 October 1940
• From: NTS San Diego, California

• Date of Birth: 24 August 1919
• Place of Birth: Gulfport, Mississippi
• Hometown / State December 1941: Pass Christian, Mississippi
• Next of Kin: Mr. Thomas Jefferson Ruddock - Father
• Address: 435 E. 2nd St., Pass Christian, Mississippi
• Parents: Thomas Jefferson Ruddock and Alice Evelyn Windom (died 1928)

• Disposition: Unrecoverable – Among the 900+ souls still onboard the USS Arizona
• Posthumous Awards: Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Star, WWII Victory Medal

 

[WW2JAKE]

and Theodore.



Ruddock was an ordnance expert who commanded battleship Massachusetts before rising to flag rank and command of Battleship Division 4. He was wounded during the battle of Tinian when his flagship, Colorado, was stuck by 22 6" shells from a coastal battery. However, he returned to duty in time to participate in the battle of Surigao Strait and the Mindoro landings.

 

1892-12-23 Born at Anderson, South Carolina 1914 Ensign Graduates from Naval Academy. Assigned to BB Utah. 1921 BB Tennessee 1926 Staff, Destroyer Squadron 11 1929 Ordnance Proving Ground, Dahlgren 1932 BB Nevada 1934 Staff, Destroyers, Battle Force 1935 Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D.C. 1939 Commander Commander, Destroyer Division 6 1940 Bureau of Ordnance 1942-12-25 Captain Commander, BB Massachusetts 1944-6 Rear admiral Commander, Battleship Division 4 1948 Superindendent, Naval Gun Factory 1951 Vice admiral Retires

Date of birth: December 23, 1892
Date of death: August 11, 1989
Place of Birth: South Carolina, Anderson
Home of record: Annapolis Maryland

Theodore Ruddock graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1914. He retired as a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.

 

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Battleship Division FOUR, in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet at the Surigao Straits during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. With his division placed in the strategic T-formation, Rear Admiral Ruddock directed shattering broadsides against a formidable column of Japanese warships. Before they could return effective fire, two enemy battleships and three destroyers were annihilated. Rear Admiral Ruddock's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Action Date: October 25, 1944

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Company: Commander

Division: Battleship Division 4

Navy CrossSee more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Task Group 77.12, during operations in support of the assault and landings at Mindoro in the Philippine Islands during the period 12 to 17 December 1944. Rear Admiral Ruddock held his battleships, escort carriers, cruisers and destroyers to an undeviating course through the dangerous waters of the Mindanao and Sulu seas and, within easy striking distance of about 600 hostile aircraft. Fighting off savage aerial onslaughts, he directed a continuous, accurate bombardment of coastal defenses, providing effective protection for our ground forces throughout the landing operations. Rear Admiral Ruddock's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Action Date: December 12 - 17, 1944

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Company: Commander

Division: Task Group 77.12

Legion of MeritSee more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the World War II

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as commander of a fire support group during World War II. Rear Admiral Ruddock continued to direct a devastating bombardment of the Sunharon section of Tinian despite heavy damage to his flagship and his own painful wounds.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Action Date: World War II

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Legion of MeritSee more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the World War II

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS from 27 September 1943 to 8 April 1944. Rear Admiral Ruddock participated in numerous campaigns throughout long and arduous operations. By his skill and courage under repeated and vigorous night and day aerial attacks, he aided in holding the damage to the forces of which the MASSACHUSETTS was a unit to a minimum.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Action Date: September 27, 1943 - April 8, 1944

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Company: Commanding Officer

Division: U.S.S. Massachusetts

Legion of MeritSee more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the World War II

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as commander of a battleship division during World War II. Rear Admiral Ruddock assisted in the invasion plans and provided continuous, heavy bombardment of the enemy's positions on Leyte.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Action Date: World War II

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Legion of MeritSee more recipients of this award

Awarded for actions during the Civil War

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral Theodore Davis Ruddock, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander of a fire support bombardment unit of vessels in the Southern Marianas from 14 June to 27 July 1944.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 351 (June 1946)

Action Date: June 14 - July 27, 1944

Service: Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

 

[joeclown]

Thanks yes that is the same internet info i gathered, was just trying to see if anyone had anything else as far as info or items. He also has the Silver Star and Bronze Star medal

[aerialbridge]

Good luck on your quest, Joe. I hope you can recover their medals, paper, and anything else that is out there. You have an amazing military pedigree.

 

“The enemy gun crews,” Rear Adm. Theodore D. Ruddock Jr., Commander Battleship Division (BatDiv) 4, afterward reported, “seemed to be thoroughly demoralized by the bombardment inflicted by the fast battleships…” Their action enabled Colorado (BB-45) to close to within 4,000 yards of the shore. “In many instances,” Ruddock explained, “the camouflage had been stripped from guns and other likely targets by the fast battleships’ bombardment, which facilitated early visual location and expeditious destruction of targets with a minimum expenditure of the limited supply of ammunition.”

[aerialbridge]

Amazing family history.

 

Happy New Year to your family, Joe. Best regards, AB.

[familytreevets]

Society news posting in Honolulu Star December 1914:

 

Commodore WiKiam II. Beehler of
the havy (retired), and Mrs. Beehler
of Annapolis, have issued invitations
to the wedding of their daughter Stella
to Ensign Theodore D. Ruddock, ,Jr
of the navy. The ceremony will take
place December 19 in St Anne's Pro
testant Episcopal church. Annapolis.
Following the ceremony a wedding
breakfast will be served at the home
of Commodore and Mrs. Beehler.
Ensign Ruddock's home is in South
Carolina. He graduated in June fast
and was captain of the midshipman's
rifle team.

 

 

[mousemad1]

I have been working on the genealogy for Adm.Theodore Davis Ruddock for the past year and do not believe that the gentlemen that you are referring to are related. Theodore is my Maternal grandfather and we have no records of anyone other than 3 daughters and one son that he had from two wives.

 

Or if we have missed something in our research, we would certainly need to know that.

 

If you need further information I would certainly be glad to share.

[pchepurko]

Request their USN service records from the St. Louis Record Center. Geoff at Golden Arrow Research can help you out.