Rufus Albritton, was one of 15 children born to Elgie Albritton and Ester Lee Taylor of Mason, Tenn.
After graduating from Gailor Industrial School, Albritton joined the United States Army and served and during the Vietnam-era from January 1969 to January 1971. He completed basic training at Ft. Campbell, Ky., and completed electronic technician training for advance individual training (A.I.T.) at Ft. Monmouth, N. J.
Pvt. Albritton was stationed as a radio relay operator at Leghorn, Italy, and as a cryptographic maintenance and communication specialist in Nürnberg, Germany.
During his service in the U.S. Army, Pvt. Albritton was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal and a certificate of Achievement from U.S. Army Europe and the 7th Army- H.Q. 66th M.I. Group.