Sergeant William P. Rudd was killed on October 5, 2008 by small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Mosul, Iraq. Rudd was assigned as a team leader to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, GA. William, known to his peers by the name Ricky, enlisted in the Army on October 2, 2003 and was a dedicated Army Ranger. Sergeant Rudd completed numerous military leadership schools as well as Airborne and Jumpmaster training and Ranger school. He served 2 tours in Afghanistan and 5 tours in Iraq. For his service, Sergeant Rudd was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

A 1999 graduate of Madisonville-North Hopkins High School, William Rudd is remembered by his comrades as a great Ranger. Fellow Ranger, Sergeant Mark Williams, remembers that “Anything he did, he did with excellence.” He is survived by his father William Rudd and stepmother Barbara, as well as his mother Pamela Coakley and his brother and sister.

Travis Manion Foundation has honored Sergeant William P. Rudd at several Character Does Matter presentations in Madisonville, Kentucky since 2013, as well as through the annual Madisonville 9/11 Heroes Run and Operation Legacy Service Project. 

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