William P Rudd - Iraq War Heroes, Fallen Heroes Memorial, Afghanistan War Heroes- OurWarHeroes.org

William Patrick Rudd

Madisonville, Kentucky

October 5, 2008

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

Sgt

3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Fort Benning, Georgia

Killed by enemy small arms fire while on a combat patrol in Mosul, Iraq.

My cousin and friend, Patrick "Ricky" Rudd was killed October 5th, 2008 in Mosul, Iraq during a raid that killed Abu Qaswarah, Al-Qaeda's number two in Iraq. Yesterday we laid to rest a true American hero. Many of you have sent kind emails, voicemail's and letters, all of which are more appreciated than I can tell you. Thank you all for those words and prayers.

Patrick was my friend and I am going to miss him very much. More importantly, he was a Ranger - 3rd Battalion, a son, a brother, a loving boyfriend that had already made plans to marry the love of his life, Charity. He was a public servant that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us back here at home. He believed that we are all Americans, not Republicans or Democrats. He was a man of faith that knew the Lord had plans for him and was accepting of whatever that plan would be. He was funny, strong, brave, honorable, and a hero.

Patrick is going to be missed very much, but his selflessness was for all of us. Today, please take time to remember that our freedom does not come freely and do not take for granted those that you love most. Life is delicate, precious and we easily forget sometimes to tell those we love most how important and appreciated they are to us. Patrick was the best at making sure people knew that he loved them. Last June while on leave from Iraq, he chose to come to Jackie and I's wedding by driving from Kentucky to Georgia. He could have simply called and explained that he was exhausted and wanted to rest at home with his father, but he went the extra mile to be there for us and I am so grateful that he did. He actually apologized to Jackie for not RSVP'ing and thanked her for understanding his last minute attendance. Take time to thank a soldier the next time you see one, the are the most real example of selflessness that we have today.

I have attached photographs, a clipping about the raid in Mosul and a very powerful youtube video that showed how his entire hometown of Madisonville, KY came out to pay their respects yesterday.

John 15:13,
Scott Rudd Phillips

https://militarytimes.com/valor/3760646.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HpCv0grpW4

IRAQ
US Army confirms al Qaeda leader killed in Mosul
Wednesday 15 October 2008
US military sources have identified a Moroccan native killed in an October 5 raid in northern Iraq as Abu Qaswarah, a senior leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.
Wednesday 15 October 2008
The US military said on Wednesday that a foreign insurgent killed in the main northern Iraqi city of Mosul this month has been identified as Abu Qaswarah, Al-Qaeda's number two in Iraq.

"Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was the Al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of northern Iraq," a military statement said.

It said that Abu Qaswarah, a native of Morocco who was killed in a raid in Mosul on October 5, had ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq's founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq in June 2006.

"He was responsible for organising and leading Al-Qaeda in Iraq efforts in northern Iraq, including operations against Iraqi and coalition targets in Mosul."

The US military also described Abu Qaswarah as having trained with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and been in contact with insurgent leaders in Pakistan.

He directed the movement of foreign terrorists into northern Iraq, a position which he took up in 2007, it said.

The attack on the building in Mosul, considered by US commanders as Al-Qaeda's last urban stronghold in Iraq, led to the death of four other insurgents as well three women and three children, the military said in an earlier report.

"As coalition forces entered the building housing the terrorist, they began receiving small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire once engaged," it said.

"A terrorist detonated a suicide vest shortly thereafter in the house ... Five terrorists along with three women and three children were killed."

Also this month, US forces killed a suspected Al-Qaeda militant believed to have planned some of the deadliest bombings in Baghdad and to have killed a group of Russian diplomats in 2006.

Mahir Ahmad Mahmud al-Zubaydi, also known as Abu Assad or Abu Rami, was killed along with an unnamed woman in Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiyah on Friday, a statement said.

The US said Abu Rami's group was responsible for suicide bombings in Baghdad on Thursday.