Elmer R. Judd

Service # 37748607

Entered Service From: Kansas

Rank: Private, U. S. Army 

Unit: Company F, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division

Date of Death: 11 March 1945, near Antipolo, Rizal Province, Philippines

Buried: Adams Memorial Cemetery, Bristle Ridge, Johnson County, Missouri

Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart

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1920 United States Federal Census (19 January 1920): Jefferson Township, Johnson County, Missouri (sheet 7B, family 158) – Elmer R. Judd (7/12 Missouri).

1930 United States Federal Census (09 April 1930): Bertville Village, Jefferson Township, Johnson County, Missouri (sheet 2B, family 52) – Elmer R. Judd (11 Missouri).

Elmer R. Judd and Miss Lois Novella Barb, both of Knob Noster were married on 15 October 15, 1939. They were married by Probate Judge W. C. McDonald in the courthouse. Elmer and Lois had one daughter, Priscilla Lucilie Judd.

Elmer Judd (20 Missouri) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (04 May 1940) for Jefferson Township, Johnson County, Missouri (sheet 10A, household 206) along with his wife, Lois Judd (23 Missouri) and daughter, Priscilla Judd (2/12 Missouri). They had lived in rural Johnson County, Missouri in 1935. Elmer had completed 8th grade, Lois finished high school. He was a farmer.

Elmer Raymond Judd (21, 30 September 1919, Knob Noster, Missouri), a resident of RFD 3, Windsor, Johnson County, Missouri signed up for his WWII Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 906, Order No. T-1820) on 16 October 1940 at Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri. He was employed by the International Shoe Company. Elmer listed his wife, Mrs. Lois Novella Judd, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 9" in height, 127 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.

Elmer R. Judd (1919 Missouri), a resident of Jackson County, Missouri, enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Army (S/N 37748607) on 02 August 1944 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was married, had completed Grammar School and had been working as a farm hand.

Private Judd received his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. He was assigned to Company F, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division and sent to the Philippine Islands. His division landed in at Lingayen Gulf on 27 January 1945. From there they fought their way south and were at Manila by 03 February 1945. The 7th Cavalry engaged the enemy near the Novaliches watershed east of the city

PVT. ELMER R. JUDD ARRIVES OVERSEAS

Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Judd of Knob Noster have received word that their son, Pvt. Elmer R. Judd has arrived safely at his destination in the South Pacific area. On his trip he met a sailor from Windsor whom he had known in civilian life.

Pvt. Judd, who is with the infantry, entered the service August 1, 1944. His wife, Mrs. Lois Judd, is living in Kansas City while she is employed by the Wilcox Electric Company. Their small daughter, Priscilla is staying with Pvt. Judd's parents. Source: The Star–Journal (Warrensburg, Missouri), Tuesday, 13 February 1945, page 1.

After the devastating battle for Manila, the the XIV Corps turned their attention to the Shimbu Group's mountain defenses just east of the city. General Oscar Griswold ordered the 1st Cavalry Division, to attack the southern half of the Japanese defenses (the 9,000-man Noguchi Force) and secure the town of Antipolo located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. On the afternoon of 20 February, they began. The 7th Cavalry Regiment spearheaded the drive eastwards. Private Judd's unit traversed the broad Marikina Valley unmolested but encountered fierce resistance as they moved into the hills and mountains forming the valley's eastern wall. There the Japanese had honeycombed the area with subterranean strongholds and machine gun positions covering all avenues of approach. Despite massive Allied air support, the cavalry advanced slowly, on some days measuring progress in mere yards. For 20 days (21 February - 12 March 1945) they battled the Japanese during the retaking of the town of Antipolo, Philippines.

"The terrain between Taytay and Antipolo rises to over 600 feet. It provided the cavalry with some cover but little concealment, for cogon grass and patches of bamboo thicket were the main vegetation. The ground was rocky limestone pockmarked by innumerable natural caves of every size. Basing its defenses on the caves, many of which it had improved, the Noguchi Force had honeycombed the foothills with subterranean strongholds, one monstrous example of which boasted thirty-two separate entrances. Sandbag or log bunkers protected most cave entrances, natural camouflage covered most installations. Machine guns guarded all avenues of approach to individual positions, many of which were mutually supporting. Noguchi Force artillery was also usually cave-emplaced and showed itself only long enough to fire a few rounds before withdrawing into caves for protection." Source: Triumph in the Philippines by Robert Ross Smith, page 371.

On 11 March, one day before the town was secured, Private Elmer R. Judd was killed in action by sniper fire. He was "not in a medical installation prior to death."

Pvt. E. R. Judd Dies in Manila

Pvt. Elmer R. Judd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Judd of Burtville, south of Knob Noster, was killed in action March 11 in Manila, according to word received by his parents last week. No details have been received.

Pvt. Judd entered the army last summer and was serving in the infantry. He was home on furlough at Christmas, left December 27 for California and was sent overseas immediately.

Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife of Kansas City and five-year-old daughter, Priscilla, one sister, Mrs. Delbert Bearce, and two brothers, Adams and Curtis Judd, of Burtville.

His wife is employed in war work in Kansas City and his daughter is with his parents in Burtville. Source: The Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri) Sunday, 22 Apr 1945, page 11.

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Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the World War II

Private Elmer R. Judd (ASN: 37748607), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star (posthumously) for gallantry in action while serving with the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, General Orders No. 126 (1945)

During that three week period, the 1st Cavalry Division suffered 130 killed and 585 wounded. According to The 1st Cavalry Division in World War II, compiled by Major B.C. Wright, (Turner Publishing, 2000), Pvt. Elmer R. Judd, from Kansas City, Missouri, of F Company was one of 41 soldiers from the 7th Cavalry awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action during the 20-day period (21 February - 12 March 1945) of heavy fighting against the Japanese during the retaking of the town of Antipolo, Philippines.

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Pvt. Elmer R. Judd was initially buried in 7746 USAF Cemetery, Manila #1, Philippine Islands.

His wife, Lois Barb Judd married Arthur Franklin Geary on 05 September 1946 and moved to California. They operated a Foster Freeze Ice Cream Store in Anaheim, California. Their daughter, Pricilla continued to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Judd.

After the war in February of 1949 his remains were brought back to the US for burial.

Pvt. Elmer R. Judd

The body of Private Elmer R. Judd, who was killed in action by snipers on March 11, 1945 near Manila, will arrive in Knob Noster Wednesday morning at 1:20 from Ft. Worth. The body is being returned to the United States for burial.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Pleasant Bethel church southwest of Knob Noster with the pastor, the Rev. O.A. Blaylock to officiate.

Music will be by the church choir.

Pallbearers will be Ebbie Adams, Jesse Adams, John Hildebrand, William Hildebrannd, Leonard McGraw and Forrest McGraw.

Military rites will be at the grave and burial will be in Adams Memorial cemetery.

Pvt. Judd, 25 years old at the time of his death, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Judd near Burtville, south of Knob Noster.

He was born near Burtville on September 20, 1919 and on October 15, 1939 was married to Miss Lois Barb and they were the parents of one daughter, Priscilla. He entered service August 1, 1944, where he received his basic training at Camp Fannin, Tex., and was sent overseas in the Pacific area in the Philippines.

Surviving are his wife, now Mrs. A. F. Geary and daughter, Priscilla Judd, of Anaheim, Calif., his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Judd, two brothers Adams Judd and Curtis Judd both of near Burtville, and one sister Mrs. Delbert Bearce of Oak Grove, Mo. Source: The Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri), Monday, 28 Feb 1949, page 4.

Judd Barracks in Tokyo, Japan, home of the 2nd Squadron, was named for Private Elmer R. Judd of "F" Troop killed on Luzon.

His daughter, Priscilla Lucille Judd married Carl Richard Moore on 02 February 1958 in Knob Noster, Missouri.