On November 3, the Honorable Robert D. Rucker, Jr. was inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame. Rucker served in the Vietnam War as a member of the Army 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) and fought to relieve Marines who were under siege at Khe Sanh. During his tour of duty, he was twice wounded and awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal.
Justice Rucker served as the 105th Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court with over 26 years of service on the appellate bench in Indiana, and authored over 1,000 opinions. To quote another Supreme Court Justice, “From Vietnam to the Indiana Statehouse, Justice Rucker’s career has been one of stellar service, uncompromising integrity, and steadfast commitment to what is right and just.” Justice Rucker has given a lifetime of service to the public and his country, both in fatigues and a robe.
The Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame was founded in 2013 with the stated objective “to publicly emphasize the honor brought to our state and nation by the sacrifice of Indiana military veterans and their families.” The year 2014 marked the first induction of Hoosier veterans into the Hall of Fame. Nominations come from all corners of the state and reflect contributions made by military veterans from World War II through the current engagements in the Middle East and elsewhere.