The senior enlisted leader for 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Headquarters Regiment died Sunday while taking part in a military exercise being held in South Korea, III Marine Expeditionary Force announced.
Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd's death is being described as a "non-combat related incident," according to a III MEF news release, which does not include any further information of how Rudd died. The matter is under investigation.
Rudd, 44, was a combat veteran who deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his official biography. He also took part in Operation Southern Watch in the 1990s.
"Sgt. Maj. Rudd gave 27 years of dedicated service to the Marine Corps, and it was an honor to work with him," Col. Christopher A. Feyedelem, commander of the headquarters regiment, said in a statement. "His death is a great loss to Headquarters Regiment and the Corps. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and co-workers."
Rudd completed boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in 1990 and later became a drill instructor with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at the Marine Corps' East Coast recruit depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, his biography said.
During his time on the drill field, Rudd served as a senior drill instructor, rappel master, event leader for the Crucible and he ran the command operations center for the Crucible, the biography said.
He deployed to Afghanistan in May 2006 as part of a Mobile Training Team. In December 2007, Rudd was frocked to first sergeant and then deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. After being frocked to sergeant major, he deployed to Afghanistan again in January 2012.
At the time of his death, Rudd was participating in the annual Key Resolve exercise in South Korea, which is timed to coincide with the end of the North Korean military's winter training cycle, when North Korean troops are at the highest state of readiness.
Rudd's military awards and decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, an Army Commendation Medal and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
