William H. Rupertus

Infobox Military Person
name= William H. Rupertus
born= birth date|1889|11|14
died= death date and age|1945|3|25|1889|11|14
placeofbirth= Washington, D.C.
placeofdeath= Quantico, Virginia


caption= MajGen William H. Rupertus, author of the "Rifleman's Creed"
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1913-1945
rank= Major General
commands= 4th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
unit=
battles= World War I Banana Wars *Occupation of Haiti Second Sino-Japanese War World War II *Guadalcanal campaign *Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo *Battle of Cape Gloucester *Battle of Peleliu
awards= Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)

William Henry Rupertus (14 November, 1889 – 25 March, 1945) was a Major General in the United States Marine Corps and the author of the Rifleman's Creed.

Military career

Rupertus began his military career immediately after high school, originally intending to serve as a cutter captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service (the earlier version of the modern Coast Guard. However, his excellent marksmanship led to his being recruited by the Marine Corps. He accepted a commission in November 1913, then attended the Marine Corps Officers School, graduating first in his class of 1915.

Rupertus served on the Marine Corps rifle team, earning the Distinguished Marksman badge and winning a number of shooting matches.

Rupertus was serving aboard the USS "Florida" (BB-30) when the United States entered World War I. He was called back to the U.S. to command a detachment of Marines headed for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Rupertus served in Haiti until after the war, when he was sent to staff officer training and then made Inspector of Target Practice in the Operations and Training Division at Marine Corps Headquarters.

In July 1937, Rupertus was a battalion commander in the 4th Marines when the Japanese attacked Shanghai in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

During World War II, he served as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Marine Division under Major General Alexander Vandegrift. It was around this time that Rupertus is said to have penned "The Rifleman's Creed", with the intent of encouraging expert marksmanship and Marines' trust in their weapons.

Rupertus commanded the Landing Task Force Organization which captured the islands of Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo in the Guadalcanal campaign. After Vandegrift left the division in 1943, Rupertus took command. He led the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Cape Gloucester and the Battle of Peleliu.

In November 1944, Major General Rupertus became the commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia. His tenure was short, however, as he died of a heart attack on March 25, 1945, just four months later. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery."William Henry Rupertus", ArlingtonCemetery.net, 2006.]

Awards and honors

Major General Rupertus' decorations included the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation with one blue star, the Victory Medal with the Grand Fleet Clasp, Haitian Campaign Medal, Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star, China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, American Theatre Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Haitian Distinguished Service Medal.

Namesake

In 1945, the U.S.N. destroyer USS "Rupertus" (DD-851) was named in his honor."Rupertus", "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" 2005.]

ee also

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=2008-01-15
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Rupertus_WH.htm
title=Major General William H. Rupertus, USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web|accessdate=2008-01-15
url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/whruper.htm
title=William Henry Rupertus, Major General, United States Marine Corps
date=September 17, 2006
publisher=ArlingtonCemetery.net

*cite web|accessdate=2008-01-15
url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r9/rupertus.htm
title=Rupertus
date=October 21, 2005
work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy

External links

*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003128-00/sec1.htm
chapter=Biographies: Major General William H. Rupertus
title=Cape Gloucester: The Green Inferno
author=Naltyin, Bernard C.
year=1994
series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps
location=Washington, D.C.