Command Sergeant Major Reuben J. Fuller

Command Sergeant Major Reuben J. Fuller
September 23, 1923 – September 2, 2012

Command Sergeant Major Fuller was born September 23, 1923 in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Albert and Laura Fuller, who are deceased.

Reuben graduated from Lamar High School in Lamar, Colorado in May of 1941. On June 30, 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served his country for 30 years, retiring June 30, 1973 at Fort Carson, Colorado. During those years he was stationed in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Luzon, Japan, Panama Canal, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Vietnam. His three main stateside Army camps were Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and Fort Carson, Colorado. He also served tours of duty as an ROTC Instructor at Southwest Missouri State College in Springfield, Missouri and Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois.

Reuben served in combat in World War II with Company C, 27th Infantry 25th Division on Luzon (1945). He also served with Company E, 27th Infantry 25th Division in Korea (1950-1951) and with Headquarters 1st Battalion 27th Infantry, 25th Division in Vietnam (1967-1968).

He also served with the following units during a return trip to Vietnam, until they returned back to the States: 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion 501st of the 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Battalion 506th of the 101st Airborne Division.

Reuben received the Combat Infantry Badge with 2 Stars. All three awards with the 27th Infantry and he is the only soldier to have received this distinction, according to the curator at the Fort Benning Museum.

Other medals Reuben received are Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star with “V” Device for Valor and Five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palms, and many other service medals.

After retiring, Reuben attended the University of Southern Colorado and received a Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction.

For many years, he volunteered and worked with elementary schools, helping students in reading and math.

He is survived by his brother: Alfred Fuller of Lamar, Colorado; two granddaughters: Cynthia Boettger of Gretna, Nebraska; and Teresa Fendley of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one great-granddaughter: Alyson Boettger; and two great-grandsons: Devyn Fendley and Austin Boettger.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. Private interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery.