Sergeant Rudolph Farmer didn’t have to be a guard at the forward observation post in Korea in the evening of September 22nd the 22nd of September, 1952. The leader of his platoon 2nd Lieutenant. Donald Hinson, had instructed a group comprising seven soldiers to set up an observation station a bit from the place where the company put up a defensive post. He was concerned that the enemy would attack in the night, so he needed someone to be ahead of their primary line of defense to be able to give a warning in advance.
SFC. Farmer was appointed to lead the squad due to the lack of experience of the group leader. At night the entire group comprised of Chinese Communist troops attacked the seven-man outpost team. The brave group was able to repel the attackers until dawn, when American forces finally stepped in to save the outpost.
One of the members of the team shared a story of courage. SGT. Erwin Elsworth stated that he was right next to SFC. Farmer was in the vicinity when an Chinese grenade fell. Farmer was thrown onto the grenade and took the full impact, and thereby protecting the lives of other soldiers in the group.
Lieutenant. Hinson said the following in a telegram sent to Farmer’s mom “There isn’t any other act of courage, in my opinion, that can surpass this. The sacrifice he made was not undeserved however. For courageous men like his are those who help make this country an even better place to live. We offer our sincerest condolences and God bestow blessings on you and all of the family.”
Rudolph “Buddie” Farmer was born on February 3, 1929 at Kinston, Coffee County, Alabama. The parents of his father were Ralphord Roy and Minnie Donaldson Farmer. The family relocated to a farm in Liberty Hill. Liberty Hill community in Covington County, Alabama, where Buddie was a student at Lockhart School. Both of his parents worked as sharecroppers. Buddie was employed in the field. After finishing in the 7th grade Buddie quit school, and worked for the Donaldson Uncle’s farm, located in Northwest Florida. He remained in the same relatives in Covington County, however he was frequently away for days.
At the age of 17, Buddie decided to join the Army. He convinced his mother to join his name since he wasn’t at the age of 18. The basic training he received was in Fort McClellan, Alabama, and was then sent for Fort Benning, Georgia, where he graduated from Airborne School. While practicing a jump, Buddie noticed a fellow paratrooper’s parachute was not been opened. As they were still in free-fall Buddie was able to get to the other soldier, and then hook to the harness of his fellow soldier, which allowed both the paratroopers to achieve a solid landing. The incident was covered in an local newspaper.
Buddie was assigned to Germany following Jump School, sometime in the latter half of 1946. Buddie was a light Weapons Infantry leader in Company B, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. It was believed that he was part in the Allied Occupation Army. Buddie’s first enlistment ended in 1950, and the army re-enlisted him in April of the same year. While stationed in Germany, Buddie met and got married to Edith Mueller. They had two children when Buddie was back in the States. In the latter half of 2001, Buddie got a notice the military was sending him to Korea. Buddie went back to the States for a brief visit in the late part of 1951 before being transferred to Korea in the early part of 1952.
When he arrived to Korea, Buddie was assigned to Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. The commander of his platoon was 2nd Lieutenant. Donald L. Hinson.
There isn’t much information available about Buddie’s Korean experiences prior to his death on the 22nd of September in 1952. Buddie’s mother received a note from him on the 21st of September night, just before his death. One an irony of warfare Buddie’s letters arrived following his death.
Buddie’s letter reads in part “Well I don’t need to think about whether I’ll ever go to heaven because I was scared of me today. I was on my own walking up the slope to the rear of a hill when I noticed a mortar round moving into the valley, so I decided to dive into the hole. It was about 10 feet. away from me, and almost completely smashed me out of the hole. It’s still hard to hear but my eardrums aren’t injured. I went to see a doctor at them and he told me I’ll be okay in the next day or two. It’s not too bad, it just terrified me to death, that’s all.”
He added, “I have met a number of nice men here. The majority of them have gone home by the start of each month. That is me who has the most new recruits, but the majority of them are pretty good soldiers. I’m in a great group of soldiers. ….The The First Sergeant will be returning home on the 15th of the next month. Captain has said that he wants me to become First Sergeant, so I think I’ll. I’ll do another stripe this winter and when the majority of our guys are chilly, I’ll be in a warm position of command.”
Buddie Farmer was never awarded the same stripe. His heroism during the 22nd of September. 1952 was a life saver for his unit but cost his own life. In 1952, he was awarded his WW II Occupation Medal [Germany1952] The Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal as well as the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
SFC. Rudolph “Buddie” Funeral services for Farmer were held on December 1 1952 on the Rhodes School House in Coffee County, Alabama. Funeral services were held in the Rhodes Cemetery with full military ceremony. Farmer had a wife Edith Mueller Farmer and his daughter Edith as well as son Rudi and son Rudi, who are in Germany. Farmer was in addition to his parents Roy Farmer and Minnie Farmer Four brothers, Edward, Donald Ray, David and Rex Farmer; five sisters, Helen, Jean, Mary Jane, Barbara Ann and Evelyn Marie Farmer. John Vick
Note from the author: Over the years, there’ve been a number of attempts to get SFC Rudolf Farmer awarded the Medal of Honor. So far, none have been successful. After reading the letters written by Farmer’s commander officer, 2nd Lieutenant. Donald L. Hinson It is hard to comprehend why Farmer was never recognized and even less his Medal of Honor.
The author would like to thank SFC Farmer’s wife, Helen Farmer Reynolds of Opp, Alabama, and her son, Steve Reynolds, for helping in the creation of this hero’s story.
The article Rudolph Farmer, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Korea Killed in Action appeared first on The Andalusia Star-News.
