William Henry Rupertus (1889 - 1945)

Born 14 Nov 1889 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Marguerite Louise (Gorman) Rupertus — married 1913 (to 1930) in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Died 25 Mar 1945 at age 55 in Quantico, Prince William, Virginia, United States

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Biography

William Rupertus is Notable.

MajGen William Rupertus served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: 1941
Unit(s): 1st Marine Division
Service ended: 1945

William Rupertus was bo/rn on 14 November 1889, in Washington DC.^[1]

He married Marguerite L. Gorman in 1913 in Washington DC.^[2] They had two children, Anne and William H., Jr. Marguerite and the children died of scarlet fever in China during the epidemic in 1929-1930. ^[3]

Rupertus was serving aboard the battleship USS Florida when the United States entered World War I and was subsequently recalled up to the U.S. to command a detachment of Marines headed for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In March 1942, he served as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Marine Division under Major General Alexander Vandegrift in New River, North Carolina to assist in the formation and training of the First Marine Division.

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.

Military Decorations

• Navy Cross
• Navy Distinguished Service Medal
• Army Distinguished Service Medal
• Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 2 service star
• Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/ 1 service star
• World War I Victory Medal w/ Grand Fleet clasp
• Haitian Campaign Medal (1921)
• China Service Medal
• American Defense Service Medal w/ Base clasp
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 service stars
• World War II Victory Medal
• Haitian Distinguished Service Medal

MajGen Rupertus also received the Faciat Georgius commemorative medal for service on Guadalcanal

Research Notes

Charles Rupertus (Rupertus-8) may be the profile for this ancestor's father. (Compton-2184 20:04, 17 October 2019 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ "District of Columbia Births and Christenings, 1830-1955," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F75W-J77 : 10 February 2018), William Henry Rupertus, 14 Nov 1889; citing , reference 1303264; FHL microfilm 1,303,264.
2. ↑ "District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZB-FZC : 10 March 2018), William H Rupertus and Marguerite L Gorman, 24 Dec 1913; citing p. 471, Records Office, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,109,852.
3. ↑ The Evening Star, (Washington, DC), 5 May 1930, p.1. col. 4. Digital images, accessed 31 May 2021, Historical newspapers.

See also:

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMFM-VJW : accessed 17 October 2019), William H Rupertus in household of Charles Rupertus, Washington city, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31, sheet 1A, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,159.
• http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/whruper.htm
• Wikipedia:William_H._Rupertus
• Wikidata: Item Q1387572, en:Wikipedia