World War II combat hero from York County: ‘Avenged the death of his platoon leader’
Pvt. Paul E. Ruppert of the Dover (Pa.) area was busy during World War II, earning a lengthy stay in a German prisoner of war camp and a bronze star. Also of interest: The Tuleyas of York and Millersville, Pa.: A love story, not baseballs and hand grenades and Nazis murdered downed WWII airman from York, Part V and Bataan survivor from Red Lion persevered as POW.
A letter writer, N. Hollerbush York, read my recent York Sunday News column about the heroics of the late Robert N. Senft.
This evoked the nomination of another hero, a former Hollerbush neighbor in Conewago Township, Paul E. Ruppert.
Like Bob Senft, Ruppert was a longtime Conewago Township resident and former York Corporation, now Johnson Controls, employee. Senft and Ruppert were among 1,200 Yorkco employees who served in World War II. Twenty-five died in uniform.
“After reading the enclosed newspaper clippings,” Hollerbush wrote, “I think you’ll agree the title of hero fits him perfectly.”
The news stories, indeed, point to valor… .