THE WALL OF FACES

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Dear PFC Gilbert Ruff, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. The 75th birthday is soon, and the 51st anniversary of the start of your tour just passed. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Halloween is next weekend. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Gil married my sister-in-law's sister. I was at Gil's wedding when he married Sandy and I remember when their daughter Cindi was born. Gil was such a nice guy. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his death. Many years ago I went to Washington, D. C. and saw the Vietnam Wall and looked up Gil's name and I took a photo of it so I could share that with his daughter. Today is Veterans Day and I was inspired to look for this website. I'm so glad I found this and I'm glad so many people left heartfelt messages. Gil, you have not been forgotten!

We met at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in September 1966 at a Freshmen mixer. Your smile and wonderful laugh will forever be in by heart You asked me to dance which made me smile. As we got to know one another better, I discovered what a kind and gentle person you were. We laughed so much, I loved riding around your black VW Bug. You were the first person to ever call me a "minnow muncher' when I ordered a fish sandwich on a Friday. When I heard that you were killed in Vietnam, my eyes filled with tears for many reasons, some of them selfish on my part. Your sweet wife and daughter lost so much,
your friends lost so much and the world lost a man for others. I will always remember you, dear, Gil, with a loving smile and a slight sadness. I was blest to know you.

PFC Gilbert O. Ruff Jr. was an infantryman and radio telephone operator, serving with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On February 22, 1971, PFC Ruff’s unit was conducting a clear and sweep operation in Thua Thien Province, RVN. The area they were patrolling had been scouted the previous day by a squad-sized element. Due to the density of the jungle, it took the squad most of the day to reach their objective, traveling probably no more than a few hundred yards. When they arrived, there were numerous signs of an NVA presence, specifically their unique odor and camouflaged bunkers. The squad quietly spent the night on some high ground listening to the NVA movement not more than 30 yards away. The Americans made every effort not to be heard. The next day, the rest of the Bravo Company arrived, including Ruff. Four men from Bravo went out approximately 30 yards to probe the area and were promptly ambushed. All four were wounded but survived. Unbeknownst to Bravo, they had walked into a NVA staging area with nothing more than a few soldiers protecting it. However, the area was heavily booby-trapped, and a man lost a foot later that afternoon. The next day, February 23rd, the company pulled back to what they thought was a safer area on a ridgeline as they waited to be returned to Firebase Jack in the next few days. In the afternoon, they formed a small night defense perimeter (NDP) and Ruff radioed for a resupply of ammunition and anything else that could be delivered. After the drop by helicopter, Ruff dispensed the company mail that came in with the supplies. When he finished his duties, Ruff shared his mail with another trooper who hadn’t received any. They sat together and talked about family for about 45 minutes. At age 24 and with a college degree, Ruff was older and well-liked by the younger, mostly 19-year-olds in his unit. When they finished talking, Ruff got up and walked about 15 feet when an enormous explosion occurred. He had stepped on a booby trap and was killed instantly. There was no trace of Ruff. No one else was injured in the blast. Members of Bravo formed a line down the side of the hill and walked around the perimeter in search of anything they could find of Ruff. Few discernable remains were found, and those they did locate were placed in a sandbag and flown back to base. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by John Shepard (2000) and Christopher Garrett (2001) at vvmf.org]