Weber County's Greatest Generation
Weber County's Greatest Generation
Runners Don't Come Home: The Story of PFC Neil Dudman
The sacrifice of a young Marine from Ogden takes center stage as we explore the life and service of Private First Class Neil Frank Dudman. Born in 1923 as the youngest of eleven children, Neil's early years were marked by hardship when his father died suddenly in 1930, leaving his mother to raise their large family during the Great Depression.
After graduating from Ogden High School in 1941, Neil answered his country's call by enlisting in the Marine Corps in September 1942 as part of the 3rd Mormon Battalion—a special unit of young LDS men from Utah. His courage was evident from the start as he trained as a Marine Raider (similar to today's Special Forces) and volunteered for the perilous role of combat runner, delivering crucial messages between units while exposed to enemy fire.
Neil's wartime journey took him across the Pacific as part of America's island-hopping strategy. He fought bravely in the Battle of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands in early 1944, where American forces captured their first pre-war Japanese territory. Just months later, on June 19, 1944, PFC Dudman made the ultimate sacrifice during the brutal Battle of Saipan—a strategic operation that would bring American bombers within range of the Japanese mainland but cost thousands of American, Japanese, and civilian lives.
His story embodies the courage and sacrifice of Weber County's Greatest Generation—ordinary young men who performed extraordinary acts of bravery when their country needed them most. Originally buried in the Pacific, Neil's remains were later returned to Ogden Cemetery, where his headstone simply but powerfully states: "Gave his life in combat with the US Marines." Join us as we honor his memory and ensure that the sacrifices of hometown heroes like Neil Dudman are never forgotten.
Hi, this is Kim from Weber County's Greatest Generation. Weber County had two boys killed on June 19th. Last week we talked about Private James Howard Smith who died in France. Today our story is about Private First Class Neil Frank Dudman. He was a Marine serving in the Pacific.
Speaker 1:He was born on May 28, 1923 in Ogden to John T and Bessie Box, the youngest of 11 children. In the 1920 census the family lived at 134 31st Street. John and Bessie had 10 children at the time and he worked as a switchman for the railroad. In the 1930 census the family was living on 31st Street, they owned their own home and it also lists that they had a radio. Just two weeks later, on April 24, 1930, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Ogden Stockyard's foreman dies. John Thomas Steadman, 53, of 134 31st Street, foreman of the Ogden Stockyards, died Wednesday after four days' illness of hemorrhage of the stomach. He was a former employee of the Union Pacific Railroad and a member of the Ogden Moose Lodge. Surviving are his wife and 10 children.
Speaker 1:In 1926, the family had a son die in an industrial accident in Nevada. The youngest child was Neil, who was seven when his dad died. Neil attended Ogden City Schools and on May 28, 1941, he was one of 671 graduates at Ogden High School. Interestingly, in the newspaper the same day there was an article Solemn Rights Arranged for Friday Morning. Weber County's heroic dead will receive the traditional Memorial Day Remembrance Friday when the faithful gather in the graveyard to eulogize their deeds. This was about six months before the Pearl Harbor attack and within five years private, first-class dead men would become one of those who would be honored on Memorial Day in the Ogden Cemetery. Honored on Memorial Day in the Ogden Cemetery.
Speaker 1:Neal signed his draft card on June 30, 1942, when he was 19, which was later than usual. I think the law was that they had to register right after or on their 18th birthday. On his draft card he lists himself as 5'11" with brown hair and hazel eyes. He enlisted in the Marines on September 16, 1942, in the 3rd Mormon Battalion. The battalion was a group of young Mormon men from Utah. The 1st Battalion was organized in July of 1942. It takes its name from the group of Mormons who in 1846 volunteered to fight in the war with Mexico and then made one of history's longest infantry marches from Iowa to California.
Speaker 1:On September 18, 1942, an article in the Deseret News said Mormon Marines leave for training. With words of praise and encouragement from Utah's first citizen, governor Herbert B Ma, still ringing in their ears, 63 men of Platoon no 3, the modern Mormon Battalion, swung onto the Union Pacific coaches today and headed for six weeks of intensive US Marine Corps training at San Diego. For six weeks of intensive US Marine Corps training at San Diego. That same group, at special induction ceremonies staged by the Deseret News last night, heard Governor Ma deliver an inspiring address urging them to live true to the heritage they possessed in accepting the call to arms as protectors of this nation and of this people. I wish you Godspeed for the tens of thousands of citizens of this great state, the governor said. There is no doubt in my mind that you will uphold the standards which our people have long held high. Following the induction, the members of the new platoon and their friends were guests of the Deseret News at an informal dance party.
Speaker 1:Neil was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry, the 4th Marine Division, and he is listed as a Marine Raider, which I read is similar to Special Forces. However, by 1944, the Raiders were disbanded and put in the 4th Marine Division. Private First Class. Studman also volunteered to be a runner, who was a soldier who served as a foot messenger, delivering crucial information between different units at great personal risk. Due to the nature of their roles, they frequently had to traverse dangerous open ground, exposing them to enemy fire.
Speaker 1:So in the Pacific in World War II, the Allies had an island hopping strategy that involved bypassing heavily fortified Japanese islands to capture strategically important and less defended ones. This allowed them to establish air bases closer to Japan, cut off the enemy supply lines and ultimately isolate and weaken Japanese forces. This started in the Gilbert Islands and the island of Tarawa in November of 1943. We lost Captain James Owen Fox in that battle. You can find his story downloaded on June 16th of 2021 on Weber County's Greatest Generation.
Speaker 1:The Allies moved to the Marshall Islands, landing on January 31, 1944, in the Battle of Kwajalon, where they landed as part of the initial assault. Their assault objectives were the heavily defended Japanese-occupied twin islands of Roy and Namur in the Central Pacific. It was the site of a major Japanese three-runway airbase. The 23rd Marines attacked Roy, while the 24th Marines landed on Namur. If the islands were captured, it would be the first time the US captured territory which was held by Japan before the war. They were successful and the island was secured by February 2nd, with 199 Marines killed and 547 wounded. The Japanese dead and captured numbered 3,563. The American victory cost the Japanese some of their most valuable bases in the Central Pacific and, because of the successful and quick assault plans, the next battles moved out.
Speaker 1:Three months After that battle, the 4th Division needed some time to replace their casualties, re-equip and train for the next amphibious assault in the Marianas. They did this on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The Marianas were more than 3,200 miles from Pearl Harbor, but only 1,250 miles from Tokyo. Possession of these islands, along with Gu Guam, would provide the US with naval and air bases to support the Air Force's new long-range B-29, which was within bombing distance of the Japanese mainland.
Speaker 1:So on June 15th the Allies had a crucial Pacific theater engagement that involved significant troop deployments and resulted in substantial casualties. The Allied forces, primarily composed of US Marines and Army soldiers, numbered around 71,000, while the defending Japanese forces consisted approximately of 31,000 soldiers. The battle lasted from June 15th to July 9th 1944, and resulted in over 3,400 American deaths and more than 13,000 wounded. Private First Class Studman was killed on June 19th. Four days into the battle. Japanese losses were even more severe, with an estimated 24,000 soldiers killed and another 5,000 committing suicide. 24,000 soldiers killed and another 5,000 committing suicide. Civilian deaths on Saipan are estimated at 22,000, some of those in battle but many more of those jumping from cliffs to their deaths because of fear of being captured by the Americans. There are some horrific videos on YouTube of families holding hands and jumping off cliffs as the American soldiers are trying to talk them down. There's an American memorial there that commemorates the sailors, marines and soldiers killed, and the cliffs are also preserved as a memorial site. So here's a breakdown of the numbers of the total troops Approximately 71,000, 3,426 were killed, 13,064 were wounded or missing. Approximately 31,000 Japanese were defending the island, 24,000 were killed, 5,000 suicides, 921 prisoners were taken and the civilian deaths were 22,000 out of the 25,000 that were on the island.
Speaker 1:On July 2nd there was an article in the Standard Examiner that read Neil F Dudman reported killed. Private First Class Neil F Dudman, us Marine Corps. Son of Mrs Bessie Dudman of 2856, malin was killed in action somewhere in the Pacific Theater. The War Department reports that he has been buried there. Private First Class Dudman graduated from Ogden High School in 1941, shortly after he enlisted in the Marines Mormon Battalion, he was trained as a Marine Raider and before leaving active duty he was a runner. Memorial services will be held in the LDS 19th Ward Chapel Wednesday at 8 pm. The family requests no flowers. So again after the war, families had the option of returning their sons back to the United States if they wished, or leaving them buried in the American cemetery. Private First Class Dudman's body was returned to Ogden. The paper read Graveside Services for Private First Class Neil F Dudman, who was killed on Saipan on June 19, 1944, will be conducted Saturday at 2 pm in the Ogden Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the VFW. The family requests no flowers.
Speaker 1:Private First Class Dudman was born May 28, 1923, in Ogden, a son of John T and Bessie Box Studman. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1941 and shortly after enlisted in the Marine Corps Mormon Battalion. He took part in the Battle for Roya Island in the Marshall Islands on February 1, 1944. His mother of Tarzana, california, received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the American Defense Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, a Victory Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation. Surviving besides his mother are two sisters, mrs Bessie Hillion and Mrs Geraldine Collins of Tarzana, six brothers, jack Elmer and Earl Dudman of Ogden, leo James and Louis Dudman, of Los Angeles. He is buried in the Ogden Cemetery and his headstone reads gave his life in combat with the US Marines.
Speaker 1:So next week we are going back to Europe and we're going to talk about Captain Leroy Gray Madsen, who was missing in action on June 20th. Tragically, this is going to be another of the set of brothers that are going to be killed in the war. As his brother, lieutenant Gordon Madsen, he is going to be listed as missing in action over France on August 16th, just a couple of months later. So thank you for joining Weber County's Greatest Generation podcast. Again, it's available on all your major podcast providers and on webercountysgreatestgenerationcom. Thanks.