Career
While making steam to get underway from harbor in the Dominican Republic, the Memphis was struck broadside by numerous storm waves from an off shore hurricane. lieutenant is speculated that an submarine earthquake contributed to the size creating a tsunami, as the ship bounced off the bottom of the harbor several times. Finally, an enormous wave drove the ship into the rocks on the shore.
The damage to its hull and engines was irreparable.
CMM Rud helped secure the boilers as the keel of the ship was bent by the force of the waves, resulting in the propeller shaft seizing. Without the action by CMM Rud and Lieutenant Claud Ashton Jones, the boilers may have exploded causing the total loss of the ship.
Machinist Charles H. Willey who was in the engine room manning his station until ordered to leave, helped remove Rud and Ashton from the steam saturated atmosphere. MMC Rud was mortally injured by the steam, but didn"t die immediately, he survived for several days after the incident.
