Heinz was the son of Lotte Dudley and dear stepson of Vaughn L. Dudley Jr. of Fairfield California. On December 21, 1967 he in enlisted in the US Marine Corps in Oakland and upon completion of Basic and Infantry Training he received orders for duty in Vietnam. Heinz, arrived in Vietnam on May 25, 1968 where he was assigned to and served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of September the 1st Battalion was operating in northern Quang Tri Province, providing security for Thon Son Lam in the vicinity of the "Rockpile" and on Route 9 for the resupply of Marine units west to Khe Sanh. The Marines also conducted daily patrols north towards the DMZ and throughout their assigned area of operations.
On September 11 before dawn, Company B was in Huong Hoa District, near Hill 461 some 3 kilometers northwest of Nui Khe Tre (Mutters Ridge) when the NVA began probing their lines and a fire fight ensued. Two Marines were killed and three wounded requiring evacuation. At first light the Marines moved north running into an enemy bunker complex and heavy enemy fire. Hit with artillery, mortar fire and light machine gun fire by the enemy the battle lasted throughout the day. By nightfall an additional six men had been killed in the action and nineteen wounded. One of the casualties was PFC Heiz Ruchti, who was killed by fragmentation wounds by the hostile artillery fire.
Casualties:
Richard Joseph Drivere
Samuel John Nunn
Juan Porras
Merle Eldon Robertson
Wayne Edward Christopher
Roy Cisneros
Heinz Ruchti
Franz Tines
During the month of September the 1st Battalion was operating in northern Quang Tri Province, providing security for Thon Son Lam in the vicinity of the "Rockpile" and on Route 9 for the resupply of Marine units west to Khe Sanh. The Marines also conducted daily patrols north towards the DMZ and throughout their assigned area of operations.
On September 11 before dawn, Company B was in Huong Hoa District, near Hill 461 some 3 kilometers northwest of Nui Khe Tre (Mutters Ridge) when the NVA began probing their lines and a fire fight ensued. Two Marines were killed and three wounded requiring evacuation. At first light the Marines moved north running into an enemy bunker complex and heavy enemy fire. Hit with artillery, mortar fire and light machine gun fire by the enemy the battle lasted throughout the day. By nightfall an additional six men had been killed in the action and nineteen wounded. One of the casualties was PFC Heiz Ruchti, who was killed by fragmentation wounds by the hostile artillery fire.
Casualties:
Richard Joseph Drivere
Samuel John Nunn
Juan Porras
Merle Eldon Robertson
Wayne Edward Christopher
Roy Cisneros
Heinz Ruchti
Franz Tines
Heinz was the son of Lotte Dudley and dear stepson of Vaughn L. Dudley Jr. of Fairfield California. On December 21, 1967 he in enlisted in the US Marine Corps in Oakland and upon completion of Basic and Infantry Training he received orders for duty in Vietnam. Heinz, arrived in Vietnam on May 25, 1968 where he was assigned to and served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of September the 1st Battalion was operating in northern Quang Tri Province, providing security for Thon Son Lam in the vicinity of the "Rockpile" and on Route 9 for the resupply of Marine units west to Khe Sanh. The Marines also conducted daily patrols north towards the DMZ and throughout their assigned area of operations.
On September 11 before dawn, Company B was in Huong Hoa District, near Hill 461 some 3 kilometers northwest of Nui Khe Tre (Mutters Ridge) when the NVA began probing their lines and a fire fight ensued. Two Marines were killed and three wounded requiring evacuation. At first light the Marines moved north running into an enemy bunker complex and heavy enemy fire. Hit with artillery, mortar fire and light machine gun fire by the enemy the battle lasted throughout the day. By nightfall an additional six men had been killed in the action and nineteen wounded. One of the casualties was PFC Heiz Ruchti, who was killed by fragmentation wounds by the hostile artillery fire.
Casualties:
Richard Joseph Drivere
Samuel John Nunn
Juan Porras
Merle Eldon Robertson
Wayne Edward Christopher
Roy Cisneros
Heinz Ruchti
Franz Tines
During the month of September the 1st Battalion was operating in northern Quang Tri Province, providing security for Thon Son Lam in the vicinity of the "Rockpile" and on Route 9 for the resupply of Marine units west to Khe Sanh. The Marines also conducted daily patrols north towards the DMZ and throughout their assigned area of operations.
On September 11 before dawn, Company B was in Huong Hoa District, near Hill 461 some 3 kilometers northwest of Nui Khe Tre (Mutters Ridge) when the NVA began probing their lines and a fire fight ensued. Two Marines were killed and three wounded requiring evacuation. At first light the Marines moved north running into an enemy bunker complex and heavy enemy fire. Hit with artillery, mortar fire and light machine gun fire by the enemy the battle lasted throughout the day. By nightfall an additional six men had been killed in the action and nineteen wounded. One of the casualties was PFC Heiz Ruchti, who was killed by fragmentation wounds by the hostile artillery fire.
Casualties:
Richard Joseph Drivere
Samuel John Nunn
Juan Porras
Merle Eldon Robertson
Wayne Edward Christopher
Roy Cisneros
Heinz Ruchti
Franz Tines
Gravesite Details
PFC Ruchti's grave is in the far right corner of Cemetary in and around where many large rocks. His name is engraved on the back of the Dudley Family Monument
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