Remembering the life, death and legacy of Purple Heart recipient Rex Dietderich
Rex Dietderich Jul. 13, 1924 – Nov. 7, 2013 Rex was a man of many gifts, and with many passions. He was born as Ellsworth Eidenmuller, changing his name when he was 27 to honor the beloved stepfather who raised him, Dr. Clifford Dietderich. In 1941, Rex entered UC Berkeley as a 16 year-old pre-med student, but by 1943 he was headed for Europe with the 648th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He fought first in France, where he was wounded, and when he recovered he was...