Weber County's Greatest Generation
Weber County's Greatest Generation
Veteran's Day in Weber County in 1944
Step back in time with me, Kim Dixon, as we honor the courage and resilience of those who shaped history on November 11, 1944. Ever wondered how pivotal moments unfolded on the world stage during World War II? This episode promises to enrich your understanding with stories of General MacArthur's triumphant return to the Philippines, Admiral Nimitz's vital Pacific maneuvers, and General Patton's unstoppable drive in Europe. We also turn our gaze homeward to Weber County, recognizing the valor of local servicemen and the community's significant financial support of the war effort. As we approach the last Veterans Day of World War II, these narratives offer both a tribute and a lesson in sacrifice and solidarity.
In a heartfelt exploration, I share the poignant tale of Seaman First Class Kenneth W. Manful and the fate of the USS Albacore, representing the silent heroism of the 52 U.S. submarines lost during the war. These stories, memorialized in places like the Honolulu Memorial and Ogden City Cemetery, serve as stirring reminders of the personal costs of conflict. By exploring these chapters, you ensure the legacy of these brave souls endures. Tune in to preserve their memory and express gratitude for their sacrifices. Follow along on Apple Podcasts as we continue to share these vital stories of courage and commitment.
Hi, this is Kim Dixon, and welcome back to Weber County's Greatest Generation on Veterans Day of 2024. So today's podcast we're going to be talking about what was going on in Weber County 80 years ago today, on November 11th 1944. So 80 years ago, world War II is in its 37th month and it is still months away from the end. General MacArthur has returned to the Philippines after his promise to return when he left in April of 1942. So, if you remember, this is a two-pronged approach to ending the war in the Pacific, with MacArthur island hopping to the Philippines and Admiral Nimitz focusing on capturing islands so they can build airfields. So in the Philippines there is a do or die stand. On Leyte, general Yamashita is taking great risks, despite Japan's dwindling reserves, to get reinforcements to Ormoc, despite determined attacks by American planes and patrol boats. This is going to lead to the biggest and most crucial land engagement since General MacArthur returned to the Philippines on October 20th. Meanwhile, admiral Nimitz is focusing on the Mariana Islands, having recently captured Saipan and Guam, and they are now able to launch the heavy B-29 bomber directly on Japan for the first time, and the bombing of Iwo Jima has started. On the European front, lieutenant General George Patton has swung his entire front toward the German border, leaping ahead 25 miles. And while things may be looking up for the Allies in Germany, hitler is already making plans for what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. This would be his last-ditch effort to save Germany, and this battle will come at great cost to the US and to Weber County.
Speaker 1:On November 11th, an AP article from London reported that 1,350 American planes attacked Cologne and Frankfurt regions, bombing jet plane bases, transport facilities and industrial plants. So what has been going on closer to home? In the last four weeks, weber County has lost 11 servicemen, both in Europe and the Pacific, and before the end of the year there will be 16 more deaths. By the end of 1944, weber County will have lost 144 servicemen in all battle theaters. On Saturday, november 11th, there was an Associated Press article whose headline read War Heroes Paid High Tributes on Armistice Day and a second headline said A Pledge that it Shall Not Happen Again keynoted today the nation's observance of an armistice day that found the world still locked in its bloodiest battle. So the article continues with new victory still to be attained, the US and its allies paused only briefly to honor their heroes, both living and dead.
Speaker 1:President Roosevelt stood without a top coat in a chilly breeze at Arlington to pay the nation's annual homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The customary presidential salute of 21 guns was fired out over the Potomac River and the presidential procession moved through the cemetery and out again. On the local page there was a large picture of a GI in the middle with pictures of accomplishments of the war MacArthur returns, europe invaded. Allies liberate Rome. Russia drives ahead, paris and France liberated. And home front backs the boys. Under the picture. The caption said different. This time, 26 years ago today, world War I ended in an armistice that tragically proved by the breathing spell for the antagonists. Today the allies, united as never before, march steadily toward a victory that the vanquished foe will never be able to dispute unconditional surrender.
Speaker 1:At a meeting in Salt Lake with more than 200 volunteers, charles L Smith, the state war finance committee chairman, told them that Utah's quota for the drive is $34 million or, in today's fund, $514,420,000. However, this was down over $13 million from the fifth war loan drive quota. So as they set the quotas, they gave one to each county with the total amount and then they gave an amount that should be raised by individual donors as opposed to businesses and corporations. Weber County's County was $5.665 million, or $85,711,450 total, and of that, $2,995,000, or $45,314,350 was to be raised through individual donations in Weber County, was to be raised through individual donations in Weber County. These numbers are just staggering to me. I can't even fathom that Weber County might be able to come up with $2.995 billion from individual donors in Weber County today.
Speaker 1:So we have had several deaths in the last four weeks, and one of them I'm going to talk about today occurred on November 4th 1944, when Seaman First Class Kenneth W Manfield was killed. His name won't be added to this place of remembrance until February 1949. He was born in Ogden on December 14th 1924, and his family moved to California where he grew up. He enlisted on September 7, 1943, and was assigned to the US Submarine Division 141 on July 31, 1944. He was assigned to the USS Albacore at Gato or Gato, I'm not sure how that's said Class Sub, one of the first mass-produced submarines during World War II. So, as I've studied, there's been a few things that I would never, ever want to do, and that one of those was a glider, the gliders that flew on D-Day. Another one would be the nose gunner of a B-17, but I can't even imagine being on a submarine. That must have been so terrifying. So the name of Gato or Gato I wish I knew which one comes from a species of small cat sharks and we're all given the names of marine creatures. The class had a top range of 11,000 nautical miles and a diving depth of 300 feet. The Albacore won the presidential unit citation and nine battle stars. She was credited with sinking 13 Japanese ships, including two destroyers. The Albacore left Pearl Harbor on October 24th and stopped at Midway to top off her fuel tanks. After that she was never heard from again and on December 21st she was presumed lost with all hands.
Speaker 1:On March 28th 1945, there was an article in the Alameda California Times which read Alamedan Unlost Submarine. An Alameda man was presumed killed when the submarine Albuquerque was lost in the Pacific. It was learned today he was Kenneth Walter Manful, 20, radar technician, who was a member of the Albuquerque's crew. Mr and Mrs Manful, 2156 Pacific Avenue, parents of the Navy man, have been notified that their son is missing in action. No other details have been received. The loss of the submarine was officially reported by the Navy yesterday. Other survivors include two brothers Darrell Manful, 17, who was a merchant marine seaman in the Pacific, and Richard Manful, 15, a high school student. Mrs Manful reported that her son had been listed as missing in action since December 20th.
Speaker 1:According to Japanese records obtained after the war, a submarine presumed to be the Abacor struck a navy mine very close to the shore of the northeast island Hokkaido on November 7, 1944. A Japanese patrol boat witnessed the explosion of a submarine and saw a great deal of heavy oil, cork bedding and food supplies rise to the surface. And, interestingly, on May 25, 2022, a Japanese team from the University of Tokyo began a search for the wreck of the Albuquerque. The team's sonar detected what appeared to be a submarine hull, 164 feet in length, on the seabed at a depth of 820 feet. They used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to photograph the wreck, capturing an image of what appeared to be the bridge and the periscope, and on February 16, 2023, the Naval History and Heritage Command confirmed that that is the identity of the wreck the Albacore.
Speaker 1:I haven't done that much research on submarines, since this is the only Weber County man that I have identified as being killed on a submarine. All in all, she was one of 52 US submarines that were lost during World War II. Seaman First Class Kenneth Manfield's name is listed on the cemetery at the Honolulu Memorial in the Courts of the Missing and is also on this place of remembrance in the Ogden City Cemetery. Thanks for joining today. This Veterans Day will be the last Veterans Day of World War II, as the war will end in May of 1945 in Europe and in August of 1945 for Japan. This has just become such a huge part of my life and I am so amazed at the stories that we have and I just really want to keep these stories going so that they're not forgotten. Thanks for joining. You can find us on Apple Podcasts.