David Lynn Rutgers

David Lynn Rutgers was born in 1946 in Holland, MI. Rutgers and his family moved to Detroit, Des Moines and finally to Marshalltown before the start of his freshman year of high school. Rutgers was an active member of the First Baptist Church and was a tenor in the choir. As a youth he had an interest in cars and motorcycles, he also enjoyed building and driving go karts. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1964, where he lettered in football. Rutgers attended Marshalltown Community College for two years; he sang in the college choir and participated in stage productions. After completing his education, Rutgers attended Iowa State University and majored in Engineering Operations. Rutgers was drafted by the Marine Corps, and started his tour of South Vietnam in November 1968. While in Vietnam, PFC Rutgers was a field artillery fire control man. In February of 1969, PFC Rutgers died in the Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam from an enemy mortar. His remains were returned to Iowa and buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. He was 22 years old at the time of his death.