Matthew Albert Ruden

Matthew Albert Ruden
U.S. Marine Corps
Corporal
Biography:
Matthew Albert Ruden was born near North Buena Vista in Clayton County and grew up on a farm near Holy Cross in Dubuque County. As a young man he was involved in a tragic crash that killed three of his friends. He was described by his loved ones as “the nicest guy and all the girls were crazy about him.” Ruden graduated from Guttenberg Community High School in the class of 1967. He joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduation. He started his tour in South Vietnam in November 1967 with the 1st Marine Division. He served nearly a year in Vietnam before he was killed on November 3, 1968. CPL Ruden was killed by a friendly air strike while participating in Operation Henderson Hill near Thon Bon, South Vietnam. A funeral and burial was held for the 20-year-old at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in North Buena Vista.
County:
Dubuque
City of EntryHoly Cross
Conflict/Time PeriodVietnam War
Service Location
Organization(s)
Separation StatusKilled In Action (KIA)
Specialty/Rate
Specific Jobs