Prior to involvement in World War II, the 32nd division of the U.S. Army, the “Red Arrow” division was originally established with National Guard members from Wisconsin and Michigan. Some of their training took place at Camp McCoy between Sparta and Tomah, Wisconsin. The entire National Guard was ordered into service in WWII by President Roosevelt in September 1940. Their report date was October 15, 1940.
The 32nd Division first reported to Camp Beauregard in Louisiana. On April 22, 1942 the division left San Francisco and was sent to Australia. They were stationed at Camp Woodside and Camp Sandy Creek near Adelaide. In July of 1942 they moved to Camp Tamborine (later called Camp Cable) near Brisbane.
The 32nd division was involved in the Papuan campaign from September of 1942 to January 1943, the New Guinea campaign from January 1944 to November 1944, the Leyte campaign from November 1944 to January 1945, and the Luzon campaign from January 1945 to August 1945.
Green County soldier Raymond Rufer served with the 128th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Division of the U.S. Army.
Raymond Frederick Rufer was born August 21, 1909 in Green County, Wisconsin to Ulrich and Rosina (Isley) Rufer.
From the 1920 U.S. Census, the Rufer family lived in Washington Township in Green County. The household included father Ulrich, mother Rosa, and children Carl, Esta, Elda, Ewald, and Raymond. Father Ulrich was a farmer employed in dairy farming.
Raymond Frederick Rufer married Julie Gertrude Budde in Green County on December 17, 1931. At some point, Raymond and Gertrude divorced.
On the 1940 U.S. Census, Raymond was living with his parents and his brother Ewald. Both sons were both employed as laborers in the building construction industry. Raymond’s ex-wife Gertrude Rufer was living separately in Monroe with their children Roger, Dorothy, Budde, and Donald. Mother Gertrude was a cook in a restaurant.
On April 15, 1941 Raymond Rufer enlisted for service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rufer had a grammar school education and was employed in semiskilled construction occupations.
From the November 29, 1943 The Capital Times article “2 Monroe Men Get Discharge,” the article stated “…Corp Tech. Raymond F. Rufer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich Rufer, has arrived in Monroe after being honorably discharged from military service at the O’Reilly General hospital in Springfield, Mo. He was overseas eighteen months, part of the time in New Guinea…
Rufer died December 10, 1943 in Green County.
From the December 11, 1943 Wisconsin State Journal obituaries, “Raymond Rufer, Monroe, Former Soldier, Dies,” the article stated “Raymond Rufer, 34, died Friday morning at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich Rufer, Monroe.
He returned to his home here a month ago after receiving a medical discharge from the army. He entered service in April, 1941, and served in the New Guinea campaign from October, 1942, to March, 1943. He was born in Washington township and lived in this vicinity up to the time of his induction into the army.
Survivors include his parents and four children, Roger, 11; Dorothy, 9; Buddy, 6; and Donald, 5; also four brothers, Albert, Monroe; Will, Monroe township; Carl, Washington township; and Pfc. Ewald, Allenhurst, N. J.; and four sisters, Mrs. Charles R. Marty and Mrs. Edward Gempeler, Washington township; Mrs. David Indergand, Monroe township; and Mrs. Frank Hartwig, Jordan township...”
Raymond F. Rufer was buried in Washington Reformation Church Cemetery in Monticello in Green County.
Thank you, Technician Fifth Grade Raymond Frederick Rufer, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
[Note: While Raymond F. Rufer is not a fallen soldier or a Gold Star Service member, but given the close proximity of his death after his medical discharge from active military service during WWII, he has been included in the Stories Behind the Stars project to honor him and his sacrifice for our country.]
