Amos Karl Rutz

1952-53 American Legion Commander

1920 - 1988
TEC4 US ARMY

Serial Number 17111829; Enlisted Camp Dodge, February 4, 1943 (date of entry into active service according to discharge papers); Private, Signal Corps, Reserves

When I go through the Veteran's pictures and scrapbooks I almost always run into something unique. This is the first Camp Dodge T-shirt I have seen before.

Amos was inducted into the Army in September 4, 1942, at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and trained at Camp Crowder, Missouri. He served overseas in China, Burma, and India where he was a cryptographic technician with Company C 835th Signal Service Battalion. On February 1, 1944, Amos wrote back to Manning and commented: "Only by God's rich grace and mercy can we have victory and peace." Amos was a member of the American Legion where he was Commander from 1952 to 1953 and also a member of the VFW in Manning. TEC4 Rutz was discharged January 17, 1946, at the Separation Center in Camp Grant, Illinois.
Amos received 4 overseas bars service bars, 1 service stripe, Asiatic Pacific Theater ribbon with 1 Bronze battle star, Good Conduct medal, and the World War II Victory medal.

Another reason why I like to scan people's picture myself is because I look for the little details such as information written on the border of the picture or on back and where the studio was located. This next picture was taken July 7, 1945, in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Most people will dig through their pictures in a hurry and those who want to scan them for me will do so in a hurry...and most of the time they'll miss this type of critical information.
If you will note - there is no mention of Ceylon in Amos' write-up and also nothing on his discharge papers but since Amos wrote the place and date we now know when and where for this picture.

Committal services for Amos Karl Rutz will be held Saturday, November 19, 1988 at 2:00 p.m. at Manning City Cemetery. Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 19, 1988, at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Riggert officiating.
Amos, son of Frederick H. and Rosa A. Wenzel Rutz, was born September 18, 1920 at Manning, Iowa.
He attended Manning schools and graduated from high school in 1938. After high school Amos worked as a grocery clerk and in 1942 enlisted in the Army of the United States. He served overseas during World War 11 in China, Burma and India where he was a cryptographic technician.

After Amos was honorably discharged from the service in 1946 he returned to Manning where he was united in marriage with Doris Elizabeth Ramsey April 14, 1946. After their marriage they continued to live in Manning where Amos was a grocer. Amos was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the American Legion and VFW Posts.
Amos had been in failing health for some time before his death Friday, November 11, 1988 at the VA Hospital in Omaha, at the age of 68 years, 1 month, and 24 days.

Amos is survived by his wife, Doris, of Manning; by the following children: Steven Rutz and his wife, Marilyn, of Cascade; Bruce Rutz, of Dubuque; Kent Rutz and his wife, Beth, of Council Bluffs; Susan Healy of Des Moines; Karl Rutz and his wife, Donna, of Manning; by two brothers, Harold Rutz and his wife, Norma, of Des Moines; and Burton Rutz and his wife, Pat, of Cedar Rapids; by a sister, Margery Mintle of Iowa City; by nine grandchildren: Troy Rutz, Stephanie Rutz, Jill and Julie Rutz, Nathan Rutz, Amy Healy, Elissa and Aaron Rutz, and Michelle Rutz.