EW1 Kevin Shawn Rux of Portland, North Dakota was an Electronics Warfare Technician on the Cole, and son of a Navy veteran. "He was career Navy. His dad was career Navy, his uncle was career Navy. He loved the travel and used to smile with a twinkle in his eye when he'd tell about a certain port he'd been in. Kevin joined the Navy after high school, stayed about 10 years, then tried being a policeman, but decided to re-enlist. Kevin is survived by his wife, Olivia Rux; his mother, Saundra A. Flanagan; four brothers, Ken Rux, Tom Rux, Tim Rux, and Mat Rux among others. He was predeceased by a sister. He was killed in al-Qaida's 2000 bombing of a U.S. Navy destroyer in Yemen along with 16 of his shipmates on the USS Cole. Kevin also lost his best friend, EW2 Scott Owens, on the USS Cole. Although he was buried at sea he has a memorial marker at the West Virginia National Cemetery.∼He was one of the crew members of the USS Cole killed in the terrorist attack on the Cole on October 12, 2000 at a port in Yemen.
He graduated from May-Port High School in Mayville, North Dakota, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 25, 1988.
Following Basic Training in Orlando, Florida, and training at Naval Technical Training Command in Pensacola, Florida, he reported to USS Taylor (FFG 50) on July 5, 1989. He returned to Naval Technical Training Command in January 1991, and then was assigned to USS Deyo (DD 989) on Oct. 22, 1991. Beginning on Nov. 2, 1994, he was a student at Naval Technical Training Center Det. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. On Jan. 10, 1995, he reported to Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, where he was stationed until Jan. 9, 1998. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on Dec. 15, 1999.
Rux was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000.
Petty Officer Rux was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of electronic warfare technician 1st class. He held numerous awards and decorations, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
He graduated from May-Port High School in Mayville, North Dakota, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 25, 1988.
Following Basic Training in Orlando, Florida, and training at Naval Technical Training Command in Pensacola, Florida, he reported to USS Taylor (FFG 50) on July 5, 1989. He returned to Naval Technical Training Command in January 1991, and then was assigned to USS Deyo (DD 989) on Oct. 22, 1991. Beginning on Nov. 2, 1994, he was a student at Naval Technical Training Center Det. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. On Jan. 10, 1995, he reported to Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, where he was stationed until Jan. 9, 1998. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on Dec. 15, 1999.
Rux was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000.
Petty Officer Rux was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of electronic warfare technician 1st class. He held numerous awards and decorations, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
EW1 Kevin Shawn Rux of Portland, North Dakota was an Electronics Warfare Technician on the Cole, and son of a Navy veteran. "He was career Navy. His dad was career Navy, his uncle was career Navy. He loved the travel and used to smile with a twinkle in his eye when he'd tell about a certain port he'd been in. Kevin joined the Navy after high school, stayed about 10 years, then tried being a policeman, but decided to re-enlist. Kevin is survived by his wife, Olivia Rux; his mother, Saundra A. Flanagan; four brothers, Ken Rux, Tom Rux, Tim Rux, and Mat Rux among others. He was predeceased by a sister. He was killed in al-Qaida's 2000 bombing of a U.S. Navy destroyer in Yemen along with 16 of his shipmates on the USS Cole. Kevin also lost his best friend, EW2 Scott Owens, on the USS Cole. Although he was buried at sea he has a memorial marker at the West Virginia National Cemetery.∼He was one of the crew members of the USS Cole killed in the terrorist attack on the Cole on October 12, 2000 at a port in Yemen.
He graduated from May-Port High School in Mayville, North Dakota, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 25, 1988.
Following Basic Training in Orlando, Florida, and training at Naval Technical Training Command in Pensacola, Florida, he reported to USS Taylor (FFG 50) on July 5, 1989. He returned to Naval Technical Training Command in January 1991, and then was assigned to USS Deyo (DD 989) on Oct. 22, 1991. Beginning on Nov. 2, 1994, he was a student at Naval Technical Training Center Det. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. On Jan. 10, 1995, he reported to Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, where he was stationed until Jan. 9, 1998. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on Dec. 15, 1999.
Rux was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000.
Petty Officer Rux was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of electronic warfare technician 1st class. He held numerous awards and decorations, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
He graduated from May-Port High School in Mayville, North Dakota, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 25, 1988.
Following Basic Training in Orlando, Florida, and training at Naval Technical Training Command in Pensacola, Florida, he reported to USS Taylor (FFG 50) on July 5, 1989. He returned to Naval Technical Training Command in January 1991, and then was assigned to USS Deyo (DD 989) on Oct. 22, 1991. Beginning on Nov. 2, 1994, he was a student at Naval Technical Training Center Det. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. On Jan. 10, 1995, he reported to Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, where he was stationed until Jan. 9, 1998. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on Dec. 15, 1999.
Rux was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000.
Petty Officer Rux was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of electronic warfare technician 1st class. He held numerous awards and decorations, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
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