Rudy Boesch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rudy Boesch
Boesch delivers opening remarks for the third annual Rudy Run SEAL Challenge at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in 2007
Birth name	Rudolph Ernst Boesch
Born	(1928-01-20)January 20, 1928 Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died	November 1, 2019(2019-11-01) (aged 91) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1945–1990
Rank	Master chief petty officer
Unit	U.S. Navy SEALs
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Defense Superior Service Medal
Other work	Survivor: Borneo Survivor: All-Stars

Rudolph Ernst Boesch (pronounced BOSH; January 20, 1928 – November 1, 2019) was a brave United States Navy SEAL. He was also known for being a contestant on the TV show Survivor two times.

Rudy Boesch joined the United States Navy when he was 17. He became a special Navy diver called a Frogman in 1951. Later, he was chosen to be one of the very first Navy SEALs in 1962.

He served in the Vietnam War and earned a special award called the Bronze Star for his heroic actions. Rudy was known for his amazing physical fitness and his strong military appearance. After 45 years of service, he retired from the Navy in 1990.

At 72 years old, Rudy was the oldest person to compete on the first season of Survivor: Borneo. He became very popular because of his straightforward personality. He competed again on Survivor: All-Stars when he was 75. Rudy Boesch passed away in 2019.

Rudy Boesch's Early Life

Rudy Boesch was born in Rochester, New York, on January 20, 1928. His parents were immigrants from Austria. Rudy often said that his parents taught him to be disciplined and to work hard.

He went to a Catholic primary school. He remembered that the teachers there taught him many important things like math, geography, and honesty. His father had fought in World War I, which inspired Rudy to want to join the military too.

Rudy's Military Career

Rudy Boesch joined the United States Navy in April 1945. He was only 17 years old and too young to join the Marines. After his basic training, he volunteered for a special unit called the Amphibious Scouts and Raiders.

Becoming a Navy Frogman

Even though World War II ended before his training was complete, Rudy was still sent to China. He later became a boatswain's mate on a ship. In 1950, he volunteered for UDT Frogman training and graduated in 1951. These "Frogmen" were special divers who cleared underwater obstacles.

Rudy met his future wife, Marge, around 1950. They got married in 1955 and had three daughters. He served in two different UDT teams during these years.

Joining the SEALs

In 1962, Rudy was chosen to be a leader for the new SEAL Team Two. This was a very important moment, as the SEALs were a new, elite special forces group. The team was put on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis that same year. In 1967, Rudy was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer, a very high rank for an enlisted person.

Service in the Vietnam War

In 1968, Rudy went to the Vietnam War. He was a platoon chief in the Mekong Delta. SEALs in Vietnam gathered information, conducted raids, and captured prisoners. Rudy did all these things during his time there. He earned the Bronze Star for his bravery in over 45 combat missions.

He went back to Vietnam in 1970 to train South Vietnamese special forces. This was part of a plan called "Vietnamization." Rudy believed these forces were good but relied too much on the U.S. military.

Setting High Standards

Rudy Boesch was known for setting very high physical and operational standards for the SEALs. In 1987, he became the first Senior Enlisted Advisor for United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). He was also called the "Bullfrog," which meant he was the longest-serving SEAL still on active duty.

He retired from the Navy on August 1, 1990, after 45 years of continuous service. He received the Defense Superior Service Medal for his outstanding career.

Many books and documentaries have talked about Rudy Boesch's time as a SEAL. He was seen as a "walking Bible on Special Operations" and a master at getting resources for his team.

A Fitness Legend

Rudy was extremely dedicated to physical training. His dog tag even listed "PT" (physical training) as his religion. He was famous for leading tough runs that other soldiers would try to avoid. Even when he was in his 50s, he could keep up with or even beat trainees much younger than him in runs and obstacle courses.

His physical appearance also stood out. He always had a perfect haircut and uniform, even early in the morning. Many people called Rudy Boesch a legend within the SEAL teams.

Rudy on Survivor: Borneo

In 2000, Rudy Boesch became a contestant on Survivor: Borneo. This was the very first season of the popular TV show Survivor. It was filmed on a remote island in Malaysia. Rudy was placed in the Tagi tribe.

Camp Life and Challenges

Rudy found his role in camp by cooking for his tribe. He used his skills learned from his military tours to be resourceful. His cooking area was even called "Rowdy Rudy's Diner." While others boiled water to stay safe, Rudy drank unpurified water. He famously said, "If I'm not still standing at noon, don't drink it," explaining he had drunk much worse water in Vietnam.

He showed his strength in challenges. In one team challenge, he single-handedly carried a heavy wooden chest to help his tribe win. He also won an individual challenge by beating others on a giant checkerboard.

The Final Challenge

Rudy was very popular with viewers and was a favorite to win the million-dollar prize. In the final challenge, contestants had to stand for hours touching an idol. Rudy competed for four hours but accidentally dropped his hand, which led to his elimination. He finished in third place.

Even though he was eliminated, Rudy still voted for Richard Hatch, who became the first Survivor winner. Rudy lost 22 pounds during the show but did not get sick. He later joked that the hardest part was "putting up with the young kids who were there."

Rudy's Popularity

Survivor became the top-rated show on American television. Rudy became one of the most popular contestants because of his straightforward and honest personality. His blunt comments were called "Rudyisms" and made him even more beloved. Many viewers wanted Rudy to win.

After the show, some people claimed that the show's producer might have influenced votes to keep Rudy on the show because he was so popular. The show denied this.

After Survivor Fame

Rudy Boesch earned $85,000 for his third-place finish on Survivor. He shared this money with his three daughters. Because of his fame, he hired agents to help him with appearances on TV shows and in magazines.

Action Figures and Books

In 2001, a 12-inch action figure of Rudy Boesch was released. He also appeared in a Survivor slot machine game. His book, The Book of Rudy: The Wit and Wisdom of Rudy Boesch, was published in 2001. It was a collection of his thoughts on different topics.

Rudy also appeared on other TV shows. In 2000, he was on an episode of the show JAG. In 2001, he hosted a part of the Modern Marvels show. He also hosted Combat Missions in 2002, a reality series where he acted as the leader of a camp. Rudy found acting challenging because he had trouble memorizing lines.

Survivor: All-Stars and Later Life

In 2004, Rudy Boesch returned for Survivor: All-Stars, which was filmed in Panama. At 75 years old, he was again the oldest contestant ever on the show. He formed an early alliance with another contestant, Rupert Boneham.

Rudy started to feel pain from an injured ankle. After his tribe lost a challenge, other team members worried about his age and ability to compete. He was the second person voted off the show, finishing in 17th place.

Legacy and Recognition

Rudy Boesch's military career became so well-known that he was mentioned in novels about SEALs. His Navy uniform is displayed at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Florida. This shows both his long service with the SEALs and his fame from Survivor.

Rudy's wife, Marge, passed away in 2008 after being ill for a long time.

Rudy remained one of the most popular Survivor contestants. In 2013, a fan site ranked him among the top 25 greatest players of all time. In 2015, he was inducted into the Survivor Hall of Fame.

In 2010, Rudy was honored at the Commando Hall of Honor at Macdill Air Force Base. He also hosted an annual event called the Rudy Run SEAL Challenge to raise money for a charity that supports Navy Special Warfare. By 2015, Rudy was living in a retirement community and helping his fellow residents with exercise activities.

Filmography

Television

Death

By August 2019, Rudy Boesch was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and needed constant care. He passed away on November 1, 2019, at the age of 91.

The New York Times described him as "the oldest, and probably bluntest, castaway ever to appear on CBS’s popular reality show, becoming a Season 1 fan favorite." The TV show Survivor: Island of the Idols included a tribute to him in an episode after his death.

See also

In Spanish: Rudy Boesch para niños