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Personal info

Full name
RUFFOLO, Bennie
Date of birth
1 June 1913
Age
32
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
36214242
Rank
Private
Function
unknown
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
11th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
11 September 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Dornot-sur-Moselle, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Salvatore Ruffolo (father)
Luisa (Covelli) Ruffolo (mother)
Mary Ruffolo (sister)
Carl Ruffolo (brother)
Albert Ruffolo (brother)
Frank Ruffolo (brother)
Joseph Ruffolo (brother)
Regina H. Ruffolo (wife)

More information

Pvt Bennie Ruffolo enlisted in the Regular Army in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 24 June 1941. He was born as Benedetto Ruffolo.

He attended Kenosha High School and was employed at Grand Union Tea Company.

Pvt Ruffolo was last seen after dark on the night of 10 September 1944 on the east bank of the Moselle River, at a point about three quarters of a mile east of the village of Dornot, France. He was in good health and had not been wounded. The area was under constant enemy artillery and small arms fire and the temporary bridgehead established became untenable. Under cover of darkness, units disengaged and withdrew. Because of the scarcity of boats, a number of men attempted to swim the river.

Pvt Ruffolo was officially declared dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.

Source of information: Leo Minne, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.findagrave.com - Mary Ruffolo, "A footsoldier for Patton" - Michael C. Bilder/James G. Bilder, The 5th Infantry division in the ETO, IDPF

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, Anna Packowitz