Education
He attended the Pennsylvania Nautical School and served as navigator and watch officer in Steamship Adams and Steamship Mexico prior to assuming duties as Portuguese Captain, Portuguese of Philadelphia, in 1914.
He attended the Pennsylvania Nautical School and served as navigator and watch officer in Steamship Adams and Steamship Mexico prior to assuming duties as Portuguese Captain, Portuguese of Philadelphia, in 1914.
Commissioned Ensign in the Naval Militia of Pennsylvania on 14 July 1916, he was mustered into Federal service 7 April 1917, and assigned in May to the interned Prinz Eitel Friedrich, later renamed DeKalb. On 1 July 1918, he transferred to the United States. Naval Reserve Force. In September, he reported for duty with Destroyer Forces at Queenstown, Ireland.
He served in United States Ship Allen (Doctor of Divinity-66) during November 1918.
In United States Ship McCall (Doctor of Divinity-28) from December 1918 to March 1919. And under Commander, Flotilla B, Destroyer Force, Atlantic, between March and June 1919.
Relieved from active duty on 25 June 1919, he remained in the Naval Reserve until transferred to the Honorary Retired List on 1 September 1939. On 3 January 1942, shortly after World World War II broke out, while Superintendent and Commanding Officer of the Pennsylvania Nautical School Ship Seneca, Lieutenant Commander Rudderow was recalled to active duty and assigned to the yacht Cythera (PY-26), another World War I veteran being fitted out for coastal patrol work.
Assuming command of Cythera when she commissioned on 3 March, Lieutenant Commander Rudderow was killed when his ship was torpedoed by U-402 off the North Carolina coast on 2 May 1942.
Only two of Cythera"s crew survived. They were picked up by the German submarine, taken to Germany, and interned for the duration of the war. The Rudderow class destroyer escort Rudderow (Delaware-224), is named in his honor.