St. George veteran who served as tank-destroyer in World War II celebrates 100 years

Bud Duane Dunn celebrated his 100th birthday with a party hosted by his neighbor, Sue Wilson, St. George, Utah, April 3, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A St. George man tasked with destroying enemy tanks during his service in World War II became a centenarian earlier this week.

Bud Duane Dunn celebrates his 100th birthday with his daughter, Kathie Pugmire, St. George, Utah, April 3, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News

Bud Duane Dunn celebrated his 100th birthday Monday with a party hosted by his neighbor, Sue Wilson. Dunn’s daughter and some of his 11 grandchildren traveled from Boise, Idaho, to attend. The Color Country Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolutionary War joined in honoring the veteran with a bouquet of balloons.

“Bud was recently hospitalized, which put the party at risk, but he rebounded, and the show went on,” Daughters of the American Revolution Color Country Chapter Honorary Regent Valerie King said in an email to St. George News. “Several family members, friends and neighbors dropped by to wish him a happy birthday.”

Dunn’s daughter, Kathie Pugmire, told St. George News he was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 30, 1942. She said her father was placed in his division because of his experience with the telephone company and knowledge of farm equipment.

“He felt that it was an amazing blessing that he was able to stay at Camp Hood during the war,” Pugmire said.

After basic training, Dunn was stationed at Camp Hood in 1942 until the war ended in 1945. At Camp Hood he was assigned to the tank destroyer force, which General Andrew Bruce implemented at Camp Hood, Texas.

The first major unit, the 893rd tank destroyer battalion at Camp Hood, was officially opened Sept. 18, 1942  and was used for armed training. While the former Camp Hood, now Fort Hood, still exists, the 893d Tank Destroyer Battalion and all other TD battalions were inactivated after World War II.

Dunn’s unit was charged with the mission to “seek, strike and destroy” enemy tanks. Dunn served in communications at the Tank Destroyer Force and Firing Center, established near Killeen, Texas.

Dunn was born in the town of Joseph, Utah, and was part of the first graduating class of pharmacy from the University of Utah. He started a pharmacy in 1955 called Millcreek Pharmacy in northern Utah. The family owned the business for over 55 years, and Dunn passed his company on to his oldest son.

Dunn also raised Arabian horses on his ranch near Park City. After he retired, he moved to Southern Utah 30 years ago. Dunn and his wife, Burnetta, had one daughter, Kathie, and three sons, Rod, Brian and Paul.

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