 |
MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '91
Robert Batten Dunham NO. 16136 CLASS OF 1946 Died 30
August 1952 north of Yonchon, Korea, aged
28 years. Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington,
VA
|
Robert Batten (Bob) Dunham was born 16 January 1924 at Fort Totten,
New York. His father, Colonel William H. Dunham, USMA 1919, spent
his career in the Coast Artillery Corps. Bob and his family lived
in many places while he was growing up, but he particularly enjoyed
his father's tour in the then Territory of Hawaii from 1935-39.
He enjoyed tennis, horseback riding and surfing. During this
period he was very active in Junior ROTC and was selected as
the outstanding cadet in his company at Roosevelt High School.
He received the American Legion Best Soldier Medal in 1939 and
was a member of the championship small bore rifle team. Spending
his youth on Army posts gave Bob a strong desire to go to West
Point. Because of his father's transfers, Bob spent each year
of high school in a different school. His senior year he attended
Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC, but ended up graduating
from North High School in Omaha, Nebraska. From high school,
he attended Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington and was
able to obtain an appointment to West Point, entering in July
1942 with the Class of 1945.
Bob's '45 roommates remember him as a gentle, soft-spoken
person who was always fun, always helpful and usually in trouble.
His troubles stemmed usually from his concern for his fellow
plebes. Unfortunately, Bob's moving from high school to high
school came back to haunt him academically. This was especially
true for plebe math and he was turned out at Christmas time.
One of his roommates, Ren Fortier '45, elected to remain at West
Point over their short Christmas leave to coach Bob for his exam;
to both's amazement, Bob passed. Unfortunately, he was turned
out again in the spring and was turned back to the Class of 1946.
Ren fondly recalls two characteristics of Bob: (1) he had a tremendous
love for people and was a wonderful friend, and (2) he had a
tremendous capacity to "spec it" when he didn't understand
it. He got through that first semester by sheer grit.
Things were much easier for Bob the second time around. He
still struggled academically, but managed to keep his head above
water. He went out of his way to help his new plebe classmates
and is fondly remembered by many of them. When graduation rolled
around, Bob went into the Infantry.
Following graduation leave, Bob joined his Infantry and Tech
Service classmates at Fort Benning, Georgia for the infamous
Branch Immaterial Course. Following the Infantry Basic Officers
Course at Fort Benning, Bob was assigned to Korea with the 7th
Infantry Division. He served with both the 32nd and 31st Infantry
Regiments and was an advisor to the Korean Military Academy at
Kangnung.
Bob returned to the States in early 1949 with assignment back
to Fort Benning, Georgia with the 3rd Infantry Division. Shortly
after arriving at Fort Benning, he went to Charlottesville, Virginia
to see his parents, and through some friends of theirs, met Patricia
Day. He served as aide de camp to Major General Percy Clarkson,
Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division. In the late summer
of 1950, Bob completed jump school at Benning, and on 21 October
1950 married Patricia (Pat) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Bob
and Pat's first assignment together was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
where Bob was assigned to the 188th Airborne Infantry, 11th Airborne.
Division.
Bob never lost his concern for others and his desire to be
helpful. Arthur Shemwell, USMA '50, recalls that he and his new
bride shared a duplex with Bob and Pat at Fort Campbell in late
1950 and 1951. Arthur remembers that Bob was invariably cheerful
despite the long days and weeks to which they we committed in
training recalled reservists, and then their own paratroop units
for Korea. To the Shemwells, Bob was great friend and neighbor.
On 5 October 1951, Bob and Pat became the proud parents of a
son, Robert Batten Dunham Jr.
Bob loved his family. A loving and caring husband, he adored
Bob Jr. A classmate, Ed Chyenoweth, also at Campbell during this
period, enjoyed the Dunhams' hospitality on several occasions.
Ed recalls Bob as friendly, outgoing and conscientious, a damn
fine soldier, husband and father. When Bob Jr. was three months
old, Bob received orders to Korea.
Upon arrival in Korea, Bob was given command of L Company,
38th Infantry 2nd Division. Walt Root, USMA '45 commanded adjacent
K Company. A classmate, Rusty Brunson, recalls a quick and most
enjoyable visit to Bob's command bunker on the front lines in
early 1952. Bob was a delight to be around. He had a playful
sense of humor while at the same time being a conscientious and
highly competent officer. Shortly after Rusty's visit,
in April 1952, the 38th Infantry was ordered to Kojedo Island
to guard prisoners. Walt Root remembers that Bob still commanded
L Company and he still had K Company during the uprisings on
Kojedo. Bob's brother Bill, who was a major at 2nd Division Headquarters
at the time, recalls that Bob considered Kojedo one of his most
interesting assignments. Bob told Bill that General Boatner,
who had been sent to quell the uprisings, was a case of the right
man at the right place at the right time. Bob didn't think there
were many general officers who could have handled the situation
as well.
When Bob's battalion was returned to the mainland in the vicinity
of Old Baldy, Bob was given command of Service Company, 38th
Infantry. This was in accordance with division policy to rotate
line commanders to the rear after so long on the line. On 30
August 1952, Bob was in his tent when he heard explosions. He
rushed out and saw that some of his men had wandered into an
uncharted "friendly" minefield. Without hesitation,
Bob organized and led a rescue party into the minefield to evacuate
his wounded troops. Bob was leading the last stretcher party
down the trail when another mine was detonated, killing him instantly.
He was survived by his wife Pat, his son Bob Jr., his parents
and brother Bill.
Bob was awarded the Soldier's Medal posthumously. This award,
one which is seldom made, is given for heroism not involving
actual conflict with an enemy. The citation for Bob's medal reads,
"Upon arriving there, he took charge of the situation and
directed the evacuation of the seriously wounded. Captain Dunham,
upon leading the last stretcher party down the trail, was instantly
killed when another mine was detonated. His aggressive spirit,
devotion to duty and willingness to sacrifice himself to provide
for his men reflects the highest credit upon himself and the
military service."
His brother Bill, who visited the scene shortly afterwards,
says he is sure Bob knew exactly what he was getting into when
he led the rescue parties in to recover the personnel. In Bill's
words, "He was never one to flinch from doing what he thought
was right. This may sound trite, but I think he personified 'Duty,
Honor, Country' as much as any Academy graduate I ever knew."
In 1954, two years after Bob's death, his father received
a letter from a young Korean man. This Korean had been Bob's
interpreter when Bob commanded L Company on the front lines.
Bob had written a letter for this young Korean recommending that
he be accepted for a scholarship in the United States. The young
man, Kwan Tae Sup, had just learned of Bob's death and wrote
to Colonel Dunham to express his sympathy. Excerpts from this
letter, expressed in broken English, reflect the qualities that
all who knew him found in Bob Dunham:
"I express deeply my condolence on his death from the bottom
of my heart. We are live in the just like a dream and life is
very short and all is vanity in this human's world. I can not
help thinking back of him, it was some day afternoon enemy projectile
being poured fiercely upon friendly troops, when I got to CP
for report the enemy situation he was playing harmonica in the
bunker without worrying. I found out that he was calmness efficient
... he was praised by all of love co officer and enlisted men.
I had chance several time talked frankly with him in his, room
he showed me his wife's picture and newly borned his baby picture....
I know he was so gallant officer and good personality ever I
met, and he graduated the West Point and his future is promising
but regretly he sacrificed him self for saving of other finally.
I believe he is to be expected received by the heavenly father
who art in glorious throne. He has shed his all good for tightness
between Korea/America and free nations. I will not forget him
even he has gone, I believe I will meet him in the heaven in
future ......"
These simple yet eloquent words are a fitting tribute to a brave
soldier, a loving and caring husband and father, and a classmate
of whom the Class of 1946 can be very proud. The "Well Done!"
from his classmates and all USMA graduates comes from the heart,
and is an expression of pride and admiration.
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife Pat
|