Battle History
My tribute to those who fell in battle
Name: Rudy J. Esquibel
Service number: 37513607
Born: 1923
Hometown: Dodge City, Kansas
Family:
Justo Esquibel (father)
Felipa Segura (mother)
Butch Esquibel (brother)
Petra Esquibel (sister)
Freddie Baltasar Esquibel (brother)
Lucy Esquibel (sister)
Manu Esquibel (brother)
Aljito Esquibel (brother)
Delores Lola Esquibel (sister)
Mike Raymond Esquibel (brother)
Roberto Esquibel (brother)
Linda Esquibel (sister)
Rank: Private
Division: 9th Infantry Division
Regiment: 15th Engineer Battalion
Status: KIA
Date of death: December 31, 1944
Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Grave Number: Plot G Row 14 Grave 69
Cemetery: American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Other information:
Rudy was wounded in Normandy on July 4, 1944. His arm was lacerated by schrapnel (fragments from an artillery shell).
His recovery took 32 days, after which he was released by the 4th convalescent Hospital.
During the Battle of The Bulge, on december 31st, Rudy stepped on a landmine and was killed.
Rudy's brother Robert was also KIA during WWII. His brother Mike also served in WWII and got wounded but survived.
Rudy J. Esquibel
Rudy's grave
sources: www.adoptiegraven-database.nl, Aimee Gagnon Fogg, Sabin Esquibel, Brian Siddall, NARA
Rudy and his wife Frances Gonzales.
Frances remarried after the war with Alex Ontiveros (Alex served in the 17th and 82nd Airborne division and was awarded a Silver Star during WWII). They raised Rudy Jr. together.
Rudy's Purple Heart Medal
American GI Forum
The Dodge City Chapter of the American GI Forum was founded in 1954.
It was dedicated to the Esquibel brothers (Rudy and Robert) in 1974.
Picture of Nellie Esquibel.
Nellie was married to Freddy Esquibel (older brother of Robert, Rudy,...)
Nellie donated the pictures of Rudy and Robert to the GI Forum that can be seen in the display case.
Wedding picture of Rudy and Frances.