Dudley Burr grew up in Durham, Connecticut, and graduated from Trinity College at Hartford. He then attended Boston University School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts, and did post-graduate work at the School of Theology at Hartford Seminary Foundation, Hartford, Connecticut. He was ordained an Episcopalian priest and held churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He entered military service and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain, serving for nine years including World War II, where he earned two Silver Stars. He later served as rector of Saint James Episcopal Church in Albion, and in 1960 became rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, which had purchased new land in 1957. He guided the church through construction and commissioning in 1964. He continued to serve Emanuel Episcopal Church until his untimely death in an automobile accident in 1967. After his death, a window was dedicated on the church in his memory.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Major (Chaplain’s Corps)Regiment:
169th Infantry RegimentDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Major (Chaplain’s Corps) Dudley Holcomb Burr, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with Headquarters, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43d Infantry Division, in action in the South Pacific Theater of Operations, during World War II. Chaplain Burr swam under water across a Philippine river on Luzon, Philippine Islands, to report a heavy battle action to his battalion commander, and then swam back to help evacuate the wounded. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Burr, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Major (Chaplain’s Corps)Regiment:
169th Infantry RegimentDivision:
43d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
July 17, 1943
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 518 (1943)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Chaplain’s Corps) Dudley Holcomb Burr, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with Headquarters, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43d Infantry Division, in action during the Munda Campaign in the South Pacific Theater of Operations, during July and August 1943. On 17 July, the 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry Regiment was isolated on a hill in the New Georgia jungle. A major Japanese force was gathering for an assault. Water was very scarce and machine gun ammunition was very low, and efforts to get supplies had failed as darkness approached. Back at Headquarters, Chaplain Burr heard of the battalion’s needs and enlisted a volunteer carrying party and during the day, led them up the Munda trail, evading Japanese trail blocks. Nearing dusk, the shout of friendly troops was heard and a dozen men led by Chaplain Burr stumbled out of the jungle laden down with water cans and belts of machine gun ammunition around their necks. After unloading the supplies, without hesitation, the volunteers under Chaplain Barr picked up the wounded and returned to the regimental area without losing a man. At 0300 hours the next day the Japanese attacked in force, but retreated at sunup with heavy losses. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Burr, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.