RUTH WILLIAM R

CWO William "Bill" R. Ruth was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/11/2001 at the age of 57.8 from Terroist attack
Mount Airy, MD
Date of Birth 11/29/1943
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
Served in Vietnam with HMM-363 in 66-67
Call sign in Vietnam MURRAY
This information was provided by John J. Blanchard

More detail on this person: Bill flew medevac helicopters in RVN as a Marine Corps officer. He was an Army Warrant Officer with the 29th Air Traffic Control Gp during the Persian Gulf War. Was with the Maryland Army National Guard.

It may interest you to know that CWO William "Bill" R. Ruth made a career as a Montgomery County Maryland School teacher and had been retired only a short time when he was killed on 9-11. Following Bill's untimely death, the Montgomery County Board of Education was periodically contacted with the suggestion that a Montgomery County Middle School be named after Bill. (Bill had taught geography at the middle schools in Montgomery County) Recently, I was contacted by The Staff Director for the Montgomery County Board of Education, Mr. George Margolies (301-279-3301). Mr. Margolies informed me that CWO William Ruth's name has been selected as one of four in consideration for an elementary school now known as "Clarksville-Damascus Elementary School Number Seven." The other three contending names are all quite worthy persons. However, my loyalties are with Bill, whom I knew quite well. As it is, if Bill's name is not selected for the name of Clarksburg-Damascus Elementary, It is my hope that the next new middle school will be named after him.

Perhaps, the Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association can help. What is needed is polite lobbying for this worthy cause. Emails and testimonials from friends and associates of Bill may help influence the selection committee into doing the right thing, naming a school after Bill.

The Web Site for Montgomery County Board of Education is: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/boe/

It may be of further interest to know that Bill's sole surviving son, Sean is serving overseas.

From: John N. Rentz, Jr.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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