Award, American: Purple Heart

Heart-shaped medal with George Washington in profile embossed in gold on a purple background surrounded by a gold rim. At the top of the heart are Washington's coat of arms enamelled in white and red with a spray of green leaves to either side. On the reverse are the words 'FOR MILITARY MERIT'. Below this is engraved 'LT. BEN RUGG 0-1294907'. Suspended by a plain purple ribbon. Mounted inside presentation case (EPH 11564).

One of two Purple Hearts awarded to 1st Lieutenant Benjamin Rugg for penetrating wounds to his left shoulder and left arm sustained in action on 25 December 1944 and 19 January 1945 respectively.

1st Lieutenant Benjamin Rugg (Army serial number 0-1294907), born 8 October 1915 in Brooklyn, New York and a salesman before the war, enlisted in the United States Army on 15 October 1940 and was posted to active duty on 29 September 1942. After attending Infantry Officer Candidate School (OCS) in the United States and undergoing intensive training in Iceland, Ireland and England, Rugg embarked for Normandy on 9 July 1944 with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. E Company were almost immediately flung into action, with its commander being captured on 25 July. Rugg, who assumed command of the company, was awarded the Silver Star Medal for an action over the next few days in which his company fended off sustained enemy attacks near Vidouville (see OMD 8447). Following the Normandy breakout, Rugg and his company continued to be involved in combat operations in France, including the Battle of Metz in the autumn of 1944. On 14 November, Rugg's company were subjected to a heavy German counterattack near the village of Sanry-sur-Nied where they had just captured a vital bridge across the River Nied. Rugg organised a successful defense, with at least six counterattacks being repulsed, and went back and forth across the bridge under enemy fire several times to carry supplies and ammunition to his company. He was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal for this action (see OMD 7354), and his Company awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (OMD 8444). When the Germans launched the Ardennes Offensive ('Battle of the Bulge') in mid-December 1944, the 2nd Infantry Regiment were sent to relieve the 12th Infantry Regiment – who had suffered heavily during the main German thrust in the south – on 24 December. The Regiment immediately began to advance against the enemy and Rugg received a penetrating wound in his left shoulder on Christmas Day but still remained with the company as they captured the town of Berdorf, Luxembourg on the 26th. Following a brief rest period, the Regiment made a succesful assault crossing of the Sauer River near Ingeldorf, Luxembourg on 18 January 1945, with Rugg receiving another penetrating wound to his left arm the following day. Rugg remained with the Company as they advanced into Germany, and was granted terminal leave to travel to England in May 1945. There he married Edith Kubelin, an English woman whom he had met in September 1943 while training in the country, and in 1946 Edith travelled to the United States as a 'GI Bride' with their baby son to settle with Rugg in Brooklyn. Rugg retired from the Army on 23 June 1945. He died on 31 July 1976.