Veterans' Memorial Project

John Wilson Ruckman

Sidney, IL

World War I

College: Liberal Arts & Sciences

Graduation Year: Attended 1877-1878

Service Branch: Army

Rank: Major General

Date of Birth: 10/10/1858

Date of Death: 06/07/1921

Major Ruckman entered West Point in 1879 and graduated 11th in his class of of 54 students. He then graduated from Artillery School (1892); the Army War College (1915); and the Naval War College (1916). He was promoted to a Brigadier General in 1916 and Major General in 1917. Ruckman served as the first editor of the Journal of U.S. Artillery (1892-1896), and according to “Who Was Who In American History,” was the inventor of many devices for use in the War. From 1911-1914, Ruckman was an instructor in the School of Submarine defense and Inspector General of the Philippine Islands. At the time of his death, Ruckman was Commander of the North Atlantic Coast Artillery District (Boston). On June 21, 1921, Congress awarded him (posthumously) the Distinguished Service Medal. Streets are named for him in the Presidio (San Francisco) and at Fort Monroe (Virginia).

-submitted by P.S. Ruckman, Jr., great-grandson

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