GATESVILLE, Texas — The remains of Staff Sgt. Robert G. Rudd, a U.S. Army soldier who lost his life in World War II, are scheduled for burial on December 9 at Bethel Cemetery, Gatesville, Texas.
A Gatesville native, Staff Sgt. Rudd was a member of Company C, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He fell in battle on January 30, 1945, at 34 years old, during the Battle of the Bulge near Rocherath, Belgium.
Due to the severe conditions of the battle, his remains were not initially recovered, and he was declared dead by the War Department on February 20, 1945.
In a significant development, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) retrieved remains from the Ardennes American Cemetery, identified as Unknown X-3144 Neuville, for analysis in 2021.
On June 20, 2022, the DPAA confirmed Staff Sgt. Rudd's identity using various scientific methods including dental and DNA analysis.
His name has been listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. A rosette will be added next to his name to signify his identification.