David Ruffner was born in Charleston, W. Va. in 1896 and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1917. He served in World War One as a First Lieutenant with the 26th Division. From 1925-1929 Ruffner taught military science and tactics as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University. In June 1940, he organized the 98th Field Artillery at Fort Lewis, Wash. and was elevated in rank to a full Colonel. After commanding the 183rd Pack Artillery, Ruffner was made commander of artillery at the Mountain Training Center at Camp Hale, Colo. When the 10th Mountain Division was activated in July 1943, he was promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of the division's artillery. Ruffner served in Camp Swift, Tex. and in Italy, where he received the Bronze Star medal as Division Artillery Commander at Mount Belvedere (1945), a Silver Star medal for Po Valley Action (1945), and the Oak Leaf Cluster for his participation in the Apennines and Po Valley campaigns. General Ruffner died in 1973.
From the description of David L. Ruffner papers, 1945-1988. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 259369047
