Weber County's Greatest Generation
Weber County's Greatest Generation
The Borgstrom Brothers' Lasting Legacy
How do you honor a family that lost nearly everything for their country? Join Kim Dixon as she returns from her hiatus to share the breathtaking story of the Borgstrom family from Box Elder County. After completing her book, "Weber County's Greatest Generation Book 3, 1944," and pursuing her communications degree, Kim reconnects with listeners to recount the unimaginable sacrifices of the Borgstrom brothers—Clyde, Boyd, Leroy, Rulan, and Roland—during World War II. This episode captures the profound impact of their service and the transformative changes in military policy that their loss inspired.
Listen to the heartfelt ceremonies and tributes that have been dedicated to the Borgstrom family, from a public ceremony in Garland to the emotional return of the brothers' bodies to Utah. Featuring voices like Deborah Long, the family's granddaughter, and dignitaries such as Governor Spencer Cox, the narrative highlights the Borgstroms' enduring legacy. Discover the powerful symbol of courage and patriotism created by Val Lewis at Riverview Cemetery, and hear the moving stories shared by community leaders. This episode is a solemn reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring our military service members' sacrifices.
Hi, this is Kim Dixon from Weber County's Greatest Generation. It has been over a year since I did my last podcast. During this time, I've gone back to school and have been working on Weber County's Greatest Generation Book 3, 1944, to make sure it was published by Christmas. So, with that being said, I have kind of put the podcast on the back burner. So, with that being said, I have kind of put the podcast on the back burner, but recently I took a look at it again and I'm overwhelmed with the amount of downloads that I receive each week, even when I haven't been the number of Weber County servicemen and women who served in World War II. At that time I thought the number would be about 2,000. And the way that I did this is on newspaperscom. I started with every page of the Ogden Standard Examiner starting on December 1st of 1941 and documented every name on a spreadsheet. After I hit 5,000, I think there will be over 6,000 as the final number I began to look at the amazing stories of our servicemen and that project morphed into a book.
Speaker 1:I soon realized that I was never going to be able to tell all of the stories in the book, and that's when it morphed into a podcast. Although I am still in school, working on my communications degree, I have come back to Weber County's Greatest Generation with the goal to complete all four books by August of 2025, which is the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. So today's story is one that I discovered while I was working on the 1944 book. It doesn't take place in Weber County, but in Box Elder County, which is the smaller county just north of us. The population during World War II was 18,832 compared to Weber County's population of 56,714. The movie Saving Private Ryan was based on a real family's experience during World War II, but we have our very own family who experienced horrible losses during the war, and that is the Borgstrom family of Boxelder County.
Speaker 1:Albin Borgstrom was born in 1883 in Brigham City, which is Boxelder County's seat and its largest town, and Gunda Peterson was born in Halden, norway, in 1887. They were married on December 14, 1910, and they raised their family in the tiny little Mormon farming community of Thatcher, which is about 19 miles north of Brigham City. They were blessed with 10 children. Their oldest, son, varon Albin, was born in 1911, daughter Alita Elizabeth in 1912, elmer Leroy in 1914, clyde Eugene in 1916, mildred Lola in 17,. Jean in 1916, mildred Lola in 1917, wilma Cleo in 1919, boyd Carl in 1921, and twins Roland Day and Rulon Jay in 1925, followed by their youngest son, eldon Kay, born in 1929. Their oldest son, varan, died on September 27, 1921, just two weeks after his 10th birthday of a ruptured appendix.
Speaker 1:World War II in Europe started in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and President Roosevelt had ran with the promise that he would not send American sons to be killed in another European war, but also understanding the precarious situation that the world and the United States was in at the time. He implemented the first peacetime draft and on September 16, 1940, the Selective Training and Service Act, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft, was instituted. To register for the draft was instituted. On October 14, 1940, both 24-year-old Clyde and 19-year-old Boyd enlisted in the Marines in Salt Lake City. They both trained in San Diego and after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, clyde was assigned to A Company 2nd Aviation Engineer, battalion 1st Marine Amphibious Corps, and Boyd was assigned as a member of the 90th Special Training Regiment. They were each sent to the Pacific.
Speaker 1:28-year-old Leroy enlisted in the Army on November 7th of 1942, and he received his training at Medford, oregon, where he was assigned to the medical detachment of the 361st Infantry 91st Division. When he completed his training, his commanding officer sent the following letter to his parents Private First Class. Leroy Bortstrom is a perfect specimen of American manhood. He possesses superior qualities of character and demonstrates physical endurance and stamina. The twins, rulan and Rolan, were inseparable at home and school and they attended Bear River High School until they were 18 and were inducted into the Army on July 21, 1943. Rolan began his training at Camp Walters, texas. He passed the test to enter the Air Corps and trained in mechanics and aerial gunnery. He received the medal for expert rifleman and later he became an aerial engineer. He received his wings at Shepherd Field and left for overseas on June 28, 1944.
Speaker 1:On April 5, 1944, the standard examiner reported Clyde Borgstrom dies in action. Clyde Borgstrom, 28 years old, one of the five sons of Mr and Mrs Alvin Borgstrom of Thatcher, has been killed in the South Pacific Theater while serving with the US Marines. His parents were informed today. Borgstrom had been in the service for nearly four years and has not been home since his enlistment. He has been overseas for two years. The other sons in the service are Roy or Leroy Borkstrom, boyd Borkstrom, rulan and Roland Borkstrom, twin brothers. On August 8th the Salt Lake Tribune reported Second Brother Dies in Action.
Speaker 1:Private First Class Leroy E Borgstrom, son of Mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom of Thatcher, was killed June 22. His brother, clyde, was killed at Guadalcanal on March 17. He entered the Army on November 21, 1942, and was assigned to the Medical Detachment. He passed all requirements of his regiment with high honors and transferred overseas the first part of March 1944. He is survived by his parents and three brothers. They always forget the sisters, corporal Boyd Borgstrom, overseas, and Sergeant Rowland and Ruland, stationed in England.
Speaker 1:On August 24, only two weeks later, an article in the Garland Times read Valley family loses a third son in war. Mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom received a telegram from the War Department on Friday, august 16, which was only a week after the news of Leroy's death, notifying them at the death of a third son, week after the news of Leroy's death, notifying them at the death of a third son, sergeant Roland Borgstrom. Sergeant Borgstrom died on August 8, 1944. The day before he met his death he received a letter from home telling him at the death of his oldest brother, corporal Leroy Borgstrom, in Italy. The news made him so ill he remained in his barracks and wrote letters of consolation to his sisters and parents. The following day he flew over Europe and lost his life. On August 8, in the Ogden Standard Examiner there was an article Parents Carry On Despite Losses.
Speaker 1:Mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom, hardworking farm folks at this little box-elder community have had three sons killed in action during the past six months. Two other sons are have had three sons killed in action during the past six months. Two other sons are in the service, one in action in France. However, they are still doing their best to produce the food and to aid the war effort to get our remaining sons home as quickly as possible. Their sons, who paid the supreme sacrifice, were Marine Private First Class Clyde E Borgstrom, 28,. Private First Class Leroy Borgstrom, 30, and Sergeant Roland D Borgstrom, 19. On August 8, he died in England from wounds suffered during a bombing mission over Germany. So when the news of Roland's death reached Utah, senators Albert Thomas and Abe Murdoch, along with Congressman Walter Grainer and Utah Governor Herbert Ma, petitioned President Roosevelt to have the other two brothers taken out of active duty or transferred stateside immediately. But before any action could be taken.
Speaker 1:On August 25, just 17 days after Rowland's death. Just 17 days after Rowland's death, Rowland was declared as missing in action on an attack over La Dreffe, france. In the desert news on October 5th it was reported Lieutenant General Alexander Vandegrift, us Marine Corps Commandant, saw to it today that heartbroken Mrs Albin Borgstrom of Thatcher, utah, will lose no more of her sons besides the three already lost and the fourth reported as missing. The paper went on to report from a daughter that their mother is suffering from shock and grief over the death of three of her boys and has given up all hope for the return of Rula and her fourth son missing in action in France. She was reported as saying if boy does not come back, there is nothing worth living for. In a special order the head of the Marine Corps directed that her one remaining boy in the service, private, boyd Borgstrom, be honorably discharged from the Marines immediately.
Speaker 1:On October 8th the Ogden Standard Examiner reported Utah is getting ready to welcome Tremont's Marine Private First Class Boyd Borgstrom, who has spent 18 months in the South Pacific and who was granted discharge because three of his brothers were killed in battle and a fourth is missing in action. He's coming home to help run the farm. His mother says I feel in giving four sons we have given enough. On October 13th the Desert News reported, with tears of joy welling in their eyes, a father and a mother who have already given three and possibly four sons to the war welcomed their fifth fighting son, marine Private First Class Boyd Borgstrom. Today at Ogden Union Station, borgstrom will make the 50-mile trip to the little 20-acre farm five miles west of Tremont by auto with his mother and father, mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom, who with three sisters and other relatives greeted the young Marine at 9.30 today. Awaiting Borgstrom at the farm will be his kid brother Alden, too young to fight at 15, and Boyd's little brown dog Tarzan. Ogden officially welcomed the returning vet of 18 months in the South Pacific when Mayor David Romney extended the city's felicitation which I had to look up in his regards to the young Marine and his parents. Shy and a little confused by the attention being paid, young Bortstrom, dressed in civvies, posed patiently with his happy relatives before a battery of press photographers asked what he intended to do on his arrival on the farm in Thatcher, the returning Marine said he expected to pitch in and help with the harvest and relieve his aging father from the heavy work. He will continue the fight he waged in uniform by working in the harvest fields.
Speaker 1:On Sunday, october 29, the Borgstrom family would be honored at a public ceremony in the Bear River Stake Tabernacle in Garland. Honored at a public ceremony in the Bear River Stake Tabernacle in Garland, the grieving family received the Good Citizens Medal of the United States Government presented by the Sons of the American Revolution Dignitaries paying respects to the Borgstroms and other box elder families with sons killed or missing in action included Governor Herbert B Ma, president George Albert Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, senator Perry Jenkins of Wyoming, all of whom were scheduled to speak. The program also included musical selections from Orpheus Chorus of Brigham City. On November 2nd in Washington DC, secretary of War Henry Stimson announced a new policy of the War Department to exempt from combat duty the sole surviving son of any families who have lost two or more sons in action. The news of Private First Class Rulon Borgstrom came just a few days later. The Salt Lake Telegram reported on November 7th. The hope that their fourth son, who had been listed as missing in action in France, might have returned to his unit was blasted today for Mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom. Tuesday when they were notified that Private First Class Ruland J Borgstrom was killed in an attack on La Drede, france, august 25th, adding the fourth gold star to the family service flag, major Francis S Ashley, personal affairs officer of the 9th Service Command, fort Douglas, had the sad task of driving to the Borgstrom farm on Monday afternoon to inform the grief-stricken parents that their fourth son had given his life for their country. But the Borgstrom family did not have any time to grieve. They were given other military duties.
Speaker 1:On Saturday, November 18th, just a few weeks after Boyd returned. The Standard Examiner reported the kickoff for Utah's sixth war loan is scheduled for Sunday at 7.30 pm, mountain Wartime at the humble farm home of Mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom. The Borgstroms have lost four sons in battle in the present conflict. A nationwide broadcast will carry the story of the family's war sacrifices and how a fifth son, boyd Borgstrom, was recently released by the Marine Corps after his four brothers were killed. Boyd is an 18-month veteran of Southwest Pacific. Gene Herschelt, a Hollywood film star and this is a man, not a woman. I had to look him up he was in 146 movies and most notably for me was that he was the grandpa in the movie Heidi with Shirley Temple. Herschelt will participate in the broadcast, motoring here from Salt Lake City. The broadcast will be carried on the Columbia Broadcast System, cbs. At the conclusion of the program President Roosevelt will speak from Washington, officially opening the Sixth War Loan Bond Drive. So it looks like after that things were relatively quiet for the Borgstroms.
Speaker 1:In October of 1946, after the war is over, there is a newspaper article that says Albin and Gunda Borgstrom were chosen as National Gold Star Parents by the Future Farmers of America. They attended the FFA convention in Kansas City to participate in the memorial program. According to the Salt Lake Tribune report, applause filled the vast convention hall for several minutes after the introduction of the Utah couple chosen by the FFA, world's largest farm boy organization, to represent the parents of all members and former members who served in the armed forces during World War II. The Borgstroms followed a procession of 32 national flags into the auditorium. Gunda Borgstrom was escorted by the Utah Director of Agricultural Education, mark Nichols, and Albin Borgstrom by Eugene Hansen, the Utah FFA president. The 121-piece Utah FFA band played marches, service songs and a recessional for the memorial program.
Speaker 1:The Borkstrom brothers' father, who still works on his sugar beet farm, told of the pleasure he received from walking his fields and seeing concrete headgates built by his sons, Leroy and Clyde. Of his sons he said they were all hard workers and proud of what they could accomplish with their own hands. So we've talked on this channel before about how the United States would bury dead soldiers near where the battlefields were, and then at the end of the war the families had the choice of bringing their bodies home or they could have them buried in a formal military cemetery. Almost four years after their deaths the bodies were returned to Utah by the American Graves Registration and a funeral was held for the four brothers in the Garland Tabernacle. On June 27, 1948, the Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported four Borgstrom brothers are laid to final rest. Leroy, clyde, roland and Rulan Borgstrom were laid to rest yesterday in the Riverview Cemetery, making the highest military honors that could be stowed on a grateful and mourning nation. They were home at last, to rest in the shadow of the Rockies and in the peaceful Bear River Valley of their birth. Their graves lay a scant seven miles from their home in Thatcher. More than 1,000 persons from all over the valley and the surrounding county gathered in the simple little cemetery for final rites. As the lone four-gold star family of America in World War II, the family received the last token of appreciation from the United States government when the casket flags were presented to the sorrowing parents, mr and Mrs Albin Borgstrom.
Speaker 1:Following a 90-minute memorial service in the morning at the Garland Tabernacle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the funeral cortege formed at 1.15 and moved slowly to the cemetery. Traffic was diverted all around the route to give the right of way to the long procession. In slow, measured beats. The cortege was led to the burial ground by the 441st Army Band from the 6th Army Headquarters at the Presidio in San Francisco. The leader's baton and muffled drums were draped in black, a solemn contrast to their white leggings and helmets that gleamed in the sun. As the band slowly pivoted through the cemetery gate, hundreds of onlookers watched and waited hushed. There were mothers with babies in arms, farmers in working and dressed clothes, businessmen and civic leaders from Salt Lake City in the crowd.
Speaker 1:As the procession approached the canopied graveside, tears could be seen in the eyes of men and women alike. Behind the band came the four dark olive drab hearses, each bearing a flag-draped casket of one of the brothers. These boys, being honored in the two-day rites, gave their lives in World War II in the short space of six months on battlefronts scattered all over the globe. Behind each hearse walked Army, navy and Marine Corps pallbearers, side by side with members of veterans organizations acting as honorary pallbearers. Next came a platoon of young National Guardsmen from the 402nd Battalion Field Artillery. A color guard with flags snapping in the breeze followed the guardsmen. Lastly came the Army staff cars, along with military, civic and church leaders. Once the procession halted in the cemetery, a 6th Army's firing squad in tan helmet liners snapped to attention.
Speaker 1:The rites that followed were brief but impressive. Upon the gray drape platform stood the family with General Mark W Clark, president George Albert Smith of the LDS Church and Governor Herbert B Ma of Utah. Mrs Borgstrom stood pale and obviously heartbroken beside General Clark. She struggled bravely to hold back the tears as the remains of each of her sons were slowly borne from the hearses to the green carpeted burial plots before the platform. From the start the crowd was silent, except for quiet whisperings. As the caskets moved to the family plot, the 6th Army Band played God Be With you Till we Meet Again. Escort detachments and the regular honor guard, on duty since yesterday, saluted as the caskets were lowered to the green carpet.
Speaker 1:The orders of Army officials resounded over the cemetery. Order arms Captain Leon H Flint LDS, chaplain from Salt Lake City, offered the dedicatory prayer. His words were the only words spoken publicly at the cemetery. Each casket rested in front of a dark wreath from one of the branches of the armed forces. Flowers were banked high on all sides.
Speaker 1:The pallbearers stood at attention as the personal escorts of each Borgstrom brother removed and folded the flag from the casket. These they turned over to the high-ranking military, who in turn presented them to members of the Borgstrom family. General Clark presented the first flag to Mrs Borgstrom, who remained seated during most of the cemetery. Major General Leroy P Hunt, the commander of the Marine Corps Pacific Theater, next gave one to the father. Both parents continued to fight bravely to restrain their emotions. The third flag was presented to the oldest living son and former Marine by Brigadier General Ned Schramm, deputy commander of the 4th Air Force. To the oldest living son and former Marine by Brigadier General Ned Schramm, deputy Commander of the 4th Air Force. The last flag was given to Eldon, the youngest son, by Rear Admiral John R Redmond, deputy Commander of the Western Sea Frontier.
Speaker 1:A few moments earlier, following Chaplain Flint's prayer, the firing squad fired three shots to the west over the graves as a salute. The crowd began gathering at the cemetery more than an hour to the west over the graves as a salute. The crowd began gathering at the cemetery more than an hour before the final rites. Military police roped off areas around the graveside. At the central point, at the foot of the Borgstrom plot, stood a simple brown marker. On the top was carved an American flag. Names of all four boys were engraved on the back and front side. The wording read Private First Class Elmer Leroy Borgstrom, born April 30, 1921, killed in action in Italy June 22, 1944, 91st Division of Medical Corps, us Army Corps. Us Army. Private First Class Clyde Eugene Borkstrom, born February 15, 1916, killed in action in England August 8, 1944. He was mortally wounded in a raid over Germany. 605th Bomber Crew, us Army Air Force. Sergeant Roland Day Borkstrom, born May 5, 1925, killed in action over Germany August 8, 1944. Private First Class Ruland J Borgstrom, born May 5, 1925, killed in action in La Draft, france, august 25, 1944, 69th Division, us Infantry. Across the bottom of the marker were the words Sons of Albin and Gundah Peterson Borgstrom. The article continues Bishop James A Wright, at the Thatcher Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, conducted the memorial service yesterday morning, at which General Clark, president Smith and Governor Moss spoke.
Speaker 1:He stood by the chaplain today as the only words of the burial were spoken by the chaplain. As the 30-minute obsequies ended, the military band snapped to attention and marched silently to the cemetery gate. Rifles of the guardsmen snapped to their shoulders and they followed, passing by the huge flag flying at half-mast in the cemetery. As the band swung out onto the road several hundred yards away, the family began to leave the rostrum. For them, these two tragic days with all their glory had ended. Mrs Borgstrom leaned on General Clark's arm. On her right walked Major Stephen Capasso of the American Graves Registration Service. He had attended her constantly since the ceremonies began yesterday. As the quiet gathering began to disperse, the drums of the band out on the highway resounded to a marching flam. A few moments later, the strains of a well-known American march floated impressively in the cemetery. Stars and stripes forever.
Speaker 1:For the Borgstrom family and all of Bear River Valley, it was the close of an historic though tragic occasion. Only the pride of the valley that the Borgstrom family has given their all to defend their country eats the grief that fill all hearts in this community. So later on in General Mark Clark's personal records he reported that before the burial a special dinner was held, and this is a quote from his journal. During the dinner, in a conversation with the Borgstrom parents, mrs Borgstrom turned to me and said in a low voice are you going to take my youngest one? She still had a son in her teens. I knew what she meant and I was glad I had done my homework, but hated to tell her that under the law, with two sons remaining, he would still be subject to a call. But in almost a whisper I told her that as long as I remained in command of the army on the West Coast, if her boy were called I would do my best to have him assigned at home. In the middle of this whispered conversation the father suddenly leaned forward and said to Mrs Borgstrom Mother, I have overheard your conversation with the general about our youngest and I will make no deals about his service. When his country needs him he will go. The mother made no further comment. I could hardly contain my emotions. Here was a man with four sons lying dead from wounds received in a battle, and he was ready to make the last sacrifice if his country required it. He was the personification of Americanism. So there is a really cool postscript to this story.
Speaker 1:In March of this year 2024, mayor Lyle Holmgren and his wife Kathy were visiting the Riverview Cemetery, and they happened to be at Clyde Borskrim's gravestone and noticed the death date was the next day, 80 years earlier, on March 17, 1944, and it struck them that it had been 80 years since his passing. So this was reported in the paper. That's when the wheel started turning. The mayor reached out to some of the soldiers' relatives still living in the area, and local sculptor Val Lewis Lewis came up with a plan of an eagle with a seven-foot wingspan atop a memorial with four arches with stars attached. We thought the idea looked good, and so did the family. Holmgren said we gave him the go-ahead to start working on it.
Speaker 1:The memorial not only covers the brothers' headstones, it covers the parents' too. So far the city has contributed $30,000, the rest being covered by private donations. A balance is still pending. We were happy with the memorial. He said it is an appropriate memorial to honor the service of these four brothers. Tremont did not forget the Borgstrom brothers. It did take 80 years but the community finally honored their sacrifice to their country and this memorial shows it. The mayor said. Lewis said he wanted the memorial to recognize their service to the country and not their deaths. I don't think we wanted to memorialize their deaths. I wanted to memorialize the service they did for their country Before this time. The four marble markers that had been placed in 1948 were hard to find and people had to look for them.
Speaker 1:Last May, hundreds of people, including Utah's governor, gathered at Riverview Cemetery in Tremonton on Monday morning for the city's annual Memorial Day ceremony and to also honor the sacrifice of one local family that lost four sons over the course of six months in defense of their country. The event provided an opportunity to showcase the newest memorial at the cemetery a metal sculpture erected around the gravesites of the brothers, four young men from Thatcher who died while serving the Allied cause in World War II. This is just for the Borgstrom brothers and it should be that way, said Val Lewis, creator of the sculpture. The sacrifice that this family has given and the courage and patriotism they showed needs to be rewarded. Deborah Long, daughter of the youngest son, eldon, who was not at enlistment age at the time the war ended, said Mom and Dad always told us girls that Grandma and Grandpa survived this tragedy with their faith in God.
Speaker 1:While the Borgstroms were featured prominently, monday's event was about recognizing all military service members. Mayor Holmgren said this Memorial Day weekend we pause to remember and honor those who have died in the service of our nation. Mayor Holmgren said the keynote speech of the day came from Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who spoke about the importance of service as a way to express gratitude for the sacrifices of those who have served in the military. We tell those in military service thank you. Well, how do we thank them for their service? I believe we thank them by serving. I believe that we give back.
Speaker 1:Patriotism is not about a t-shirt. Patriotism is not a bumper sticker. Cox said Patriotism is about getting up every morning and telling ourselves that we are going to give back. Patriotism is unselfish. Patriotism is about saying we are going to make Thatcher and Tremont and Utah and the United States of America a better place today than it was yesterday, because we are unselfish people. Granddaughter Deborah Long also thanked the crowd for showing up to honor her family and recognize all families that have served in the country, giving a nod to the new sculpture in the process. This eagle will watch over forever. So there you have it. If you get a chance to go to Tremont Cemetery, go take a look at it, because it is truly beautiful. This is the end of this podcast and thank you for joining Again. This is available on Apple Podcasts, on my website, weber County's Greatest Generation, and on my Facebook pages. Thanks,