Delbert Johnston (1914-1944)

JOHNSTON, EWALT, CASEY, CARLSON, PERKINS, SNYDER, MCAFEE, SEAMAN

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 1/27/2017 at 11:11:46

Body of Delbert Johnston Buried Here Wednesday

Earl T. Conway Post, American Legion were in charge of military services for Delbert M. Johnston, whose body was returned from Italy for burial in Roseland Cemetery beside those of his father and mother.

The remains arrived in Sanborn Tuesday evening and graveside rites were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. A guard of honor from the Legion mot the train Tuesday evening and escorted the body to the funeral home. Legion members met at the Legion Hall forming a procession led by a color guard and firing squad. They proceeded to the highway and then to the cemetery, where military honors were paid their departed comrade. Rev. H. Milo Hall, post chaplain, and pastor of the Methodist church, where Delbert was a member and attended when he lived here as a boy, was in charge of the service.

Acting as color guard were Wilbur Smith, Wayne Jacobs, Marvin Achterhof and Vernon Bogard. The pall­bearers, Harry Benner, Alvin Goodmanson, Ed Boone, Earl Hopkins, Robert Postma and Louis Smith, marched beside the hearse following the color guard. Joel Geister was Commander of the Ceremonial Team, Kenneth Gorsett commanded the firing squad, which was composed of Wilbur Merriam, Carl Postma, Willis Oostenbrug, Ogden Childers, Garret Spykerman, Joe Wolthuizen, Andrew Nonneman and Joe Foley. Rollin Dick was drummer and taps were sounded by Bornadino Hickey.

The flag which draped the casket was presented by Harry Benner to Elmer Johnston, brother of the deceased soldier and who also served during the war in the Pacific area. Sergeant John Meyers, of Galesburg, Ill., escorted the remains to Sanborn from Kansas City and remaincd to attend the services.

Technician Fifth Grade Delbert M. Johnston was reported killed in action in Italy January 3, 1944.

He was born in Sanborn June 2, 1914, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Johnston,, both of whom preceded him in death.

He had enlisted in the U. S. Army May 8, 1941. He was stationed in Ireland, then in England and participated in the African campaign, thence to Italy, where he met his death in tho fighting there.

A memorial service was held in the Methodist church here January 30, 1944 in his honor.

Two sisters and the brother of the deceased came for the service. They are Mr. and Mrs. Willard Casey and son, Michael, and Mrs. Irene Ewalt, all of Eugene, Ore., and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Johnston and daughter, Lee Ann, of Boone.

Other relatives attending included Mr. and Mrs. Joe Johnston Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Joe Johnston Jr. and Harold Johnston, of Cleghorn; Mr. and Mrs. Ncls Carlson, Aurelia; Mrs. Vera Perkins and sons, Conrad and Delbert, of Parker, S. D.; Mrs. Minnie Snyder, Sioux Falls, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Cecil McAfee and daughters, Marjorie and Marcella, and Miss Dorothy Seaman, Jefferson, Iowa.

Sanborn (Iowa) Pioneer, Sep 16, 1948, p1