347. Korean War Hero Returns Home 1951

Updated: Mar 23, 2022

Although not a native of Pensacola, he became an adopted Pensacolian through marriage. Arthur Charles Dudley Jr. was born in Panama City, Florida on January 2, 1922 in the logging community of Millville in Bay County. He was the son of Arthur C. Jr. (1900-1977) and Lillia Williams who married in Bay County in September 1921. By 1940, he was working at the International Paper Company, Southern Kraft Inc. in Bay Harbor. Two years later, he met a young Bay County teacher and they were married nearby on May 15, 1942. Hattie Adonia McFarlin (1919-2001) was born and raised in Warrington, Florida, the daughter of Samuel McFarlin (1887-1948) and Flossie R. Briggs (1891-1971). Five months after their marriage, Arthur enlisted in the US Army on October 21, 1942. Hattie returned home to Pensacola to teach while Arthur went to Ft. Hood for basic then to California for six months of training in large scale maneuvers. Upon completion, he was sent to the European theater where the fighting had become intense. As the German army collapsed, his unit reached the Rhine River just ten days before their surrender to the Allies. He returned home to an honorable discharge on October 23, 1945 and three well-earned battle stars.

But peace time offered few opportunities for Arthur, so he reenlisted in the Army. He was sent to Ft. Benning for 29 months and then to Japan for 24 months during the occupation. All was well with the world, or so Dudley thought! Then, disaster struck at dawn of June 25, 1950 when North Korea attacked south across the 38th Parallel. The unprepared American and South Korean forces were chopped to pieces. To stem the tidal wave of enemy soldiers, Arthur and his comrades were transferred to the 24th Infantry Division and rushed to Korea. Their only objective was to block the advance by whatever means possible until American troops could be rushed to their aid from the states. Due to his WWII experience, he was immediately promoted to sergeant and given a weapons squad. He and his men were rushed to Hill 584 on August 3, 1950, where the fighting had become hand to hand. There, they made their last ditch stand against the oncoming hordes. The weather was scorching hot and water and ammunition was scarce. Before it was over, Sergeant Dudley had killed 54 enemy soldiers before being evacuated to a field MASH unit with wounds.

Ten days later he was back in the field leading his men northward. On April 9, 1951, he and his men were in an intense firefight about fifteen miles north of Seoul just across the 38th Parallel. Dudley was slightly wounded and reported into an aid station. The next morning, he was shot full of penicillin and sulfa drugs and rejoined his men fighting without him. Nearby was a stronghold of enemy soldiers overlooking a strategic road. The entire advance was immobilized by the well dug in enemy troops. A platoon was sent in to dislodge them only to be repulsed with heavy casualties. Another platoon went in and received the same. The CO turned to Dudley and ordered him to take the position. They moved forward and after a bloody fight, the North Koreans fled from the wild Pensacolian and his men leaving 250 of the dead comrades behind. During the fighting on April 11th, Sgt. Dudley was seriously wounded once again.

More fighting continued until early July 1951 when Sgt. Dudley was rotated home after eleven months of intense combat. He arrived in Pensacola on the 9th of July to a hero's welcome by his wife Hattie and two young daughters Sheila and Yvonne. On the chest of his uniform could be seen the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star. Because of his bravery and distinguished combat record, he was honored by various civic groups, one of which held a well-deserved banquet in his behalf at the Wingate Beach Casino. The Pensacola News journal even likened him to Sgt. Alvin York, the famous Medal of Honor recipient of WWI fame!

After the war, things changed between he and Hattie leading to a split up in 1952. Still teaching at the Cedartown School in Molino, she would eventually remarry Jesse Robinson (1920-1989), another WWII Army veteran. Both Hattie and Jesse are buried at Barrancas Cemetery. As to Arthur, he would pass away on March 4, 2005 and was buried in the Sunset Memory Garden in Graniteville, SC.