Rudy Culak
Born: 6 March 1917, Moulton, Lavaca County, Texas, USA
Death: 17 July 1987, Deming, New Mexico, USA
Burial Site: FBNC, Section A, Row Q, Site 47
Awards
Rudy Culak a dedicated farm worker, served as a Corporal noncommissioned officer (CPL) in the US Army. Prior to the war, he worked on a farm in Luna State. His occupation was farm mechanics. He registered in the Army on October 16, 1940, in Deming, New Mexico, and he was enlisted on January 5, 1942 in Ft Bliss El Paso, Texas. He was wounded in battle in his cheek and arm and remained at the hospital from July to August 1944[i].
During his service in the US Army, he participated in various battles and campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Rhineland, and Central Europe. His service on continental land spanned two years, two months, and 24 days, while foreign service accounted for two years and seven months. His sacrifices were acknowledged with several decorations, including the American Theater, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Arrowhead Normandy, and Victory Medal. Of these awards, the Purple Heart Medal commemorated his injuries sustained during battle against opposing armed forces or as a result of military operations, and the Bronze recognized his role in the “D” Day Normandy Invasion. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
According to the 1950 US Federal Census, he became a farm manager, and his wife Grace Culak was a farm helper[ii]. He passed away in New Mexico at the age of 70[iii].
Images & Documents
Purple Heart Medal US Army
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Rudy Culak
Notes:
Compiled by Gladys Zubiría, Rice University
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Legacy Memorial, Find Your Veteran
[i] National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 – ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112.
[ii] National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Deming, Luna, New Mexico; Roll: 4076; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 16-8
[iii] Information retrieved from: https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/rudy-culak-birth-1917-death-1987/81029167