The senior enlisted adviser for the headquarters regiment of 3rd Marine Logistics Group died in a non-combat incident March 19 while participating in a training exercise in Pohang, South Korea, Marine Corps officials announced late Monday.
Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd, 44, had been participating in Key Resolve, a joint U.S.-Republic of Korea exercise that ran March 7-18 and involved ground, air, naval, and special operations assets. The exercise this year had a pointed focus on "decapitation raids" and strikes on simulated North Korean targets, according to multiple reports.
Rudd, a native of Post, Texas, entered the Marine Corps in 1990, according to his official biography. Trained as an infantry assaultman, his career included a tour as a drill instructor from 1996 to 1998; two deployments to Afghanistan; and most recently, a deployment aboard the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force as the sergeant major of Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, the MEU's air combat element.
His military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, an Army Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon, officials said.
At his current post, Rudd was based at Camp Kinser, Okinawa.
Officials declined to provide additional information about the nature of Rudd’s death, saying an investigation was ongoing.
"Sgt. Maj. Rudd gave 27 years of dedicated service to the Marine Corps, and it was an honor to work with him. His death is a great loss to Headquarters Regiment and the Corps," Col. Christopher A. Feyedelem, commanding officer for Headquarters Regiment, 3rd MLG, said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and coworkers."
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
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