Missing in action, not in mind
DUDLEY BROWN, Staff Writer
Priscilla Taylor was born years after her family last saw Ruffus Pitts. But even though she's never met him, she wants to know more about him.
Pitts was Taylor's uncle; he fought in World War II but never returned home.
"We just know Dec. 30, 1945, the Army listed him MIA," Taylor said.
In 1941, Pitts voluntarily joined the Army at the age of 19. He served as an Army sergeant in the all-black 366th Regiment based at Fort Devens, Mass. The unit saw action in North Africa and Italy.
His niece has spent the past 10 years trying to learn more about him. She's visited military Web sites and didn't find anything until this past summer. She was spelling his name "Rufus" while doing her searches until a friend told her that "Ruffus" used to be a common spelling for the name.
The new spelling helped her find information on his military record. She learned he had earned seven medals, but his family had never received them. She contacted Congressman Jim DeMint's office, and the medals were sent to the family last month.
Taylor found the information about Pitts just in time for a family reunion. But unfortunately, the family still doesn't know whether he died and, if so, how he died.
"We were so excited," said Margaret Chambers, one of Pitts' nieces. "It was excitement and sadness at the same time."
Taylor also found an online memorial in Florence, Italy, that included Pitts' name.
She's considering going to Italy next summer to see the monument. She's heard stories of missing soldiers' families going to Europe and asking people about the soldiers. She's considering that, too.
"I still have hope somebody knows Ruffus," Taylor said.
But Taylor and her family are not alone.
Many families of military personnel have the same unanswered questions. The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office lists 78,000 soldiers as missing in action after World War II.
Pitts was one of 16 children, and the siblings around his age have died. Two of his brothers, Robert and Lewis Pitts, are still living. Both are in their 60s.
Robert Pitts said he remembers Ruffus coming home for their mother's funeral in 1942. Robert said he was about 5 at the time and remembers sitting on his brother's lap at the family's home near Inman.
"That's the only thing I remember about him," Robert said.
The family never saw him again.
Taylor said the family has pictures he mailed home, some with him and women from the military, but they don't know whether he ever married or had children while overseas.
Lewis Pitts said he's glad Taylor has been able to find some information on his brother.
"I'm glad we found out something, which is better than nothing," said Lewis Pitts, who said he sometimes thinks of his brother when he sees a neighbor dressed in uniform for veterans' parades.
The family sent flowers to the monument in Italy for Veterans Day last month.
"I want to bring some closure to it for my family," Taylor said.
©2006 Spartanburg Herald-Journal