Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Military Activities (1943-46)

Jack Ruby, originally classified 1-A in September 1941 and reclassified as 1-H or 3-A due to age or financial hardship, was reclassified 1-A again in early 1943 and inducted into the U.S. Army Air Forces on May 21, 1943, becoming the last of the Rubenstein brothers to enter military service. After completing basic and advanced aircraft mechanic training at various southern airbases (with a brief five-week stint at Farmingdale, New York), he earned a sharpshooter’s rating with the M1 carbine in February 1944, received consistently excellent character and efficiency ratings, attained the rank of private first class, and was honorably discharged on February 21, 1946. Ruby was reportedly quick to respond to anti-Semitic insults, at one point beating a sergeant who called him a “Jew bastard,” and while his military work ethic drew conflicting assessments, the record contained no indication of anti-American sentiment. He openly admired President Roosevelt, reportedly weeping upon learning of the president’s death in April 1945, and continued small-scale entrepreneurial ventures while in the service, peddling punchboards and chocolates sent from Chicago and enjoying card and dice games near the barracks.

Postwar Chicago (1946-47)

After his discharge, Ruby joined his brothers in Earl Products Co., which manufactured cedar chests, punchboards, and small aluminum goods, with Jack handling sales. Insufficient profits led to frequent arguments, and Hyman left the company early. Jack sold costume jewelry alongside Earl Products merchandise and refused to travel outside Chicago, leading Earl and Sam to buy out his interest for over $14,000. Despite some reports, it was unlikely he was in the nightclub business—he may have been confused with Harry Rubenstein, who operated such establishments and was convicted of manslaughter. His personality remained largely unchanged: fashionably dressed, soft-spoken but hot-tempered, quick to fight anti-Semitic or anti-military insults, and active at athletic clubs with a reputation as a “Romeo.”