Courtesy of Penny Phillips
 

Private First Class
Boyd Scott Dunbar
U. S. Army
38074269
 

July 25, 1919 - June 26, 1944
Matagorda Cemetery
Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas

Gold Star Mother
Nora Catherine Duke Dunbar

PFC Dunbar at Find A Grave

Private First Class Boyd Scott Dunbar, U.S. Army [July 25, 1919 – June 26, 1944] was born to Robert Boyd Dunbar [April 4, 1917 – September 23, 1964] and Nora Catherine (Duke) Dunbar [January 24, 1897 – February 12, 1944] in Matagorda County, Texas. Boyd joined the U.S. Army on January 16, 1942 at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Before going overseas he served in California for two years, then moved back to Texas and was stationed near Gainesville. While he was in California he was cast in a newsreel of a simulated ‘Battle of Tarawa” by MGM. At the time of his death he was attached to the 359^th Infantry Regiment, 90^th Infantry Division “The Tough Ombres”.  On June 6, 1944 the Division landed at Utah Beach in the Normandy Invasion. An excerpt from the 90^th Infantry Division Unit History reads:  “And so the month of June [1944] came to an end.  The Cotentin* Peninsula had been secured, Cherbourgh has fallen, and only minor mopping up operations were in progress.  The peninsula had fallen, but across its base Field Marshall Rommel had drawn a line of fire and steel, and planned to contain the Allies with-in their small area until he could draw upon reserves.  When those reserves became available, then a counter-offensive would be launched to drive the Americans back and to hurl them into the sea.  In the meantime, the line across the peninsula had to be held at all costs. That was the plan of the enemy.  But the Americans plans were radically different.  Theirs called for the liberation of the soil of France.  And so, with the arrival of July, new orders also arrived, They read with a familiar ring . . . The 90^th Division will attack . . .”. In the September 28, 1944 edition of The Daily Tribune there was mentioned  “Mr. Boyd Dunbar received a message from the War Department Thursday telling of the passing of his son, PFC Boyd Dunbar, Jr.[sic] who was killed in action in France.  Several weeks ago a first report came saying he was missing in action.” There is a military report where Boyd is reported as a Prisoner of War and died as a Prisoner of War, this may explain his initial report of being in a missing status.  He may have been wounded, captured by the Germans, then died from his wounds.  Boyd was first interred at St. Lo, France, then when his family requested his remains be returned to the United States he was repatriated home in 1949 and was re-interred at the Matagorda Cemetery.  At the time of his death he was survived by his father:  Robert; sisters: Miss Mary Catherine Dunbar of Matagorda and Mrs. Frances Roby of San Juan, Texas.

* Also called the Cherbourgh Peninsula

Dear Carey:
 

Just to let you know that I have moved. I am in this Dear Ole Texas again. I am sure glad to get back here again even if it is in North Texas. I am up near Gainesville, Texas. In fact four miles from there. This is the first time I have been back on Texas soil for two years and one month. I have been out in California all that time.

We have been guarding the coast. The way things look now it won't be long before I will be LONG GONE. But I guess it is about my turn after all, two years on this side is quite a while.

While we were in Los Angeles we made a news reel. We had a simulated battle of "Tarawa." M.G.M. Studios made the set. It was in the coliseum in Los Angeles. The name of it is "Los Angeles Attacks."

Please send my Tribune to this address:

Pfc. Boyd S. Dunbar 38074269

Co. L, 140th Infantry,

Camp Howze, Texas.

I enjoy reading the Tribune very much.

As Always,

Boyd

MATAGORDA

      Mr. Boyd Dunbar received a message from the War Department Thursday telling of the passing of his son, Pfc. Boyd Dunbar, Jr., who was killed in action in France. Several weeks ago a first report came saying he was missing in action. The many friends, in fact, all of Matagorda, of Mr. Dunbar, his two daughters and younger son, grieve with them in this great sorrow. Boyd was a splendid young man and if he ever had an enemy it is not known.

Matagorda County Tribune, Thursday, September 28, 1944
 

REBURIAL RITES FOR PFC DUNBAR TO BE HELD WED.

      Reburial services will be held for Pfc. Boyd S. Dunbar in the Matagorda cemetery Wednesday afternoon with the Rev. A. J. Adrian officiating.

      The body is due to arrive in Bay City, Wednesday, at 12:43 p.m. and will lie in state at the Matchett - Newman Funeral Home until 3:45 p.m. when it will be taken to Matagorda for re-burial rites.

      Members of the American Legion will serve as pall-bearers.

      Pfc. Dunbar was killed in action in France on June 26, 1944. He was 24 years, 11 months, and 1 day old at the time of his death.

      Among his survivors are his father, R. Boyd Dunbar of Matagorda; a sister, Mary Catherine Dunbar of Matagorda; and another sister, Mrs. Frances Roby of San Juan, Texas.

Matagorda County Tribune, August 4, 1949
 

Photo courtesy of Heather Serrill Janise
 

Matagorda WWI & WWII Memorial - Matagorda Park
Courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
 

Mrs. R. B. Dunbar Dies Following Short Illness

Mrs. R. B. Dunbar, 47, died at her home Saturday, 8:30 a.m. February 12, following an illness of a short duration.

Surviving are her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Frances Roby, of San Juan, Texas, Miss Mary Catherine Dunbar, of Matagorda; two sons, Pfc. Boyd Dunbar, Camp Howze, Texas, Ernest Dunbar, Matagorda. Also surviving are one brother, S. L. Duke of Bay City; three sisters, Miss Sealy Duke, Matagorda, Mrs. Jim Harrison and Mrs. Marie Ainsworth, both of Bay City.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Methodist Church in Matagorda. Interment was in Matagorda Cemetery. Reverend Marvin Vance officiated.

Funeral services were under the direction of Matchett-Newman Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, February 14, 1944

Photo courtesy of Heather Serrill Janise
 

R. B. Dunbar Rites Thurs.

Funeral services for Robert Boyd Dunbar, 74, who passed away at his home, 2611 First St., this morning, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday in the Taylor Brothers Chapel.

The Rev. Milton McWilliams, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church will officiate. Interment will be in the Matagorda Cemetery.

Dunbar is survived by his wife, Marie, and two daughters, Mrs. Mary Catherine Baker of Matagorda and Mrs. Lurlyn Roby of San Juan.

He also leaves five sisters, Mrs. Annie Gordon, Bay City; Mrs. Julia Wheeler, Kountze; Mrs. Inez Calhoun, Harlingen; Mrs. Rhoda Dietrich, Matagorda; and Mrs. Olive O'Brien, Galveston. There is one brother, Frank Dunbar of Galveston, and five grandchildren.

The Daily Tribune, September 23, 1964                     Photo courtesy of Heather Serrill Janise

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