Ruben Earl Steadmon

Ruben Earl Steadmon, 87, of Big Spring, died on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park with, rev. Joey Bacon, Associate Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, officiating. He was born July 19, 1924, near Knott, Texas and married Jean Randell on April 15, 1950 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She preceded him in death on December 26, 2001.Ruben was living temporarily in Ohio when he mustered into the Army in April 1943, took his basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was among the troops of the 264th Infantry Regiment, Company C, aboard the USS Leopoldville on Christmas Eve 1944 proceeding to join the Battle of the Bulge (the Ardennes Offensive) when the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. He was in his hammock, located in the mess area, when the first explosion hit the compartment directly next to him bulging out the bulkhead and killing the men of 262nd who were billeted there. He was blown completely out of his hammock and landed across the room on his feet. His company was ordered to proceed to the deck, an order executed with urgent haste. On deck they could see the HMS Brillant alongside and they were told not to worry that tugs were coming out to tow them the remaining distance to the coast of France. But Ruben could see a huge hole in the ship and that the rear deck was under water. He stripped off some of his gear, climbed onto the slippery wooden railing, grabbed a cable for balance and prepared to leap to the deck of the Brillant. A soldier nearby shouted, "Wait don't do it, you'll be killed." Ruben shouted back, "There's a hole in this ship the size of a six room house, it's going down, and I'm getting off!" The Leopoldville surged down in the waves and as it came back up the deck of the Brillant appeared to be about 30 feet below his position on the railing. He jumped, landed on the deck on his back, and as he shot across the deck a British sailor reached out and grabbed him. He was ordered to the radio room, and as he arrived he was greeted by, "Hey, what are you doing here?" It was the same sailor that urged him not to jump. Ruben went on to serve in France and Germany, and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.After the war, and after the usual youthful round of various occupations, he returned to his hometown of Big Spring, Texas, and served as a civil servant with the United States Air Force at Webb Air Force Base for close to thirty years, retiring in 1977.He is survived by a daughter, Donna Ridenour and husband, Bary of San Antonio; a son, David R. Steadmon of Las Vegas, Nevada; a younger brother, Fermon B. Steadmon of San Antonio; three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,