I received an email from Rudy (Lindorpho) Arruda in September 2004. He had his son write the letter for him. Rudy informed me that he was with the 295th and that he may have shared a cigarette with my dad during the war. Of course that caught my immediate attention. I then sent him the link for the slide shows I created and we've been corresponding ever since.

01-14-2009

It is with saddened heart, I write of the passing of my dear friend of four years. I express my deepest sympathy to Rudy Jr and the rest of his family. I always looked forward to his kind words, and now my inbox will be a little more lonely without him.

09-07-04

MY NAME IS RUDY ARRUDA 295TH COMBAT ENG. I MIGHT HAVE SHARED A BUTT WITH YOUR DAD. MY SON IS WRITING THIS NOW. IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND AND HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU HAVE MY EMAIL.

09-09-04

Thank you very much it gave my father memories that he always wanted to show me rather then explain. He has no photos so your next one will be deeply appreciated. Thanks, son of Rudy Arruda 295th combat engineers...we await your next picture show I know my dad can't wait.

Later that day...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THIS MEANS ALOT TO MY DAD . HE IS 80 YEARS OLD AND IS VERY PROUD TO HAVE SERVED HIS COUNTRY AND EVERYONE WHO ALSO DID WHAT HE DID. HE MIGHT HAVE NEVER MET YOUR DAD BUT THEY'RE A LOT ALIKE IN MORE WAYS THEN WE WE'LL EVER KNOW. I BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT AND MY DAD CAN'T BELIEVE THE THINGS YOU DO AND HE KNOWS YOUR DAD WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU. I ALREADY KNOW MY DAD IS. IT'S CRAZY THE BOND THAT THEY SHARED TOGETHER AND SOMEDAY THEY WILL ALL MEET AGAIN. LIKE I SAID MY DADS 80 AND HAS HEART TROUBLE, BASICALLY WHATEVER CAN BE WRONG WITH A PERSON'S HEART IS WRONG WITH HIS, AND WHATEVER COULD BE CORRECTED HAS BEEN AND THERE'S NO MORE THEY CAN DO. I FEEL SORRY ABOUT YOU LOSING YOUR DAD BUT I BELIEVE HE'S ALWAYS WITH YOU. JUST LIKE MY DAD WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME AND WHAT HE HEARS ABOUT HE WILL BE ABLE TO PASS ON SOMEDAY. GOD BLESS, THANKS AGAIN FRIEND.

ALWAYS,
RUDY JR AND SR.

10-03-04

I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT TO FIND OUT ALL YOU HAVE. IT MUST BE AWESOME. MY DAD ISN'T HERE RIGHT NOW BUT WHEN I SEE HIM I WILL SHOW HIM THE PHOTOS. HE WAS STATIONED IN GERMANY MOST OF THE WAR AND A FEW OTHER PLACES I WILL LET YOU KNOW. MAYBE YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN FINDING SOME PHOTOS LIKE YOU HAVE. UNTIL THEN HAVE A GREAT DAY AND I KNOW YOU WILL. THANKS FOR KEEPING ME INFORMED.

RUDY

11-12-04

Marion's note: This was in response to an email I sent to several engineers telling them about a program that was showing on the History Channel regarding the history of engineers throughout the ages.

Thanks for telling me. My dad went right to the channel and started his history lessons. I really enjoy listening to him talk. Oh by the way I have photos to send you of different groups of engineers my father had that I didn't know about.

rudy

01-14-2009

New photos added in memoriam...

Rudy Aruda

Rudy and pal

Rudy on left