Herschel died in New Guinea, from battle wounds during WWII. His dying words, written to his parents were commigrated in the book: The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson. His words and his sacrifice echo even today. (Information provided by Stuart Weddle)
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Handwritten-Mon. Nov. 22, 1943
"I'm Not Afraid to Die" Says Marine's Last Word to Parents
AURORA, ILL., Nov. 11 (UP)-After lying wounded for 10 days in the steaming jungles of New Guinea within eight of the Japanese, Marine Capt. Herschel Horton, 29, scribbled a letter to his parents and told them he was not afraid to die.
Horton died last December, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Horton, did not receive the letter until last night. The letter, scrawled on the pages of a small notebook, told how Horton was shot in the leg and hip Dec. 1, while identifying Americans dead on a mercy mission.
For two days, Horton said he lay in a state of semi-delirium.
The letter said in part:
"Finally, Lieutenant Gibbs and one of his men from the anti-tank company came to me. Their medico also came up. The medico gave me (missing).
Lieutenant Gibbs promised me aid. I never saw him again. The medico came back and gave me water, but a man helping him got shot there, and that scared him away.
"Life from then on was a terrible nightmare. The hot, burning sun-the delirious nights. No one came (missing) which was wonderful to me, although it was polluted by all the rotting bodies within 12 or 14 feet of me.
(Missing) my commander came by but they could never find me. On two or three occasions they nearly got to me, when the Japs or a rainstorm came.
The Japs are living within 13 yards of me. I see them every day. I have tried to make splints and crawl or walk out, but I just can't make it.
Today is Dec. 11 (believed to be the day on which he died) and I managed to stand. But I could go no farther.
" A Jap shot me in the shoulder and neck as I weakly sat there, and I thought my time had come. But no; I sit and lie here in this terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me, but why he is making me suffer this terrible ordeal."
"It is true I understand life and its reasons now, but why should He send it to this terrible grave with me? Why not let me live and tell others?"
"I am not afraid to die, although I have nearly lost my faith a couple of days here. I have a pistol here but I could not kill myself. I still have faith in the Lord. I think He must be giving me the supreme test. I know now how Christ felt on the cross."
Adams County, Indiana Historical Museum Scrapbook
Scrapbook "1943Nov-Dec1945" Image 5
Transcribed by Janice Vasilovski
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Handwritten-Mon. Nov. 22, 1943
"I'm Not Afraid to Die" Says Marine's Last Word to Parents
AURORA, ILL., Nov. 11 (UP)-After lying wounded for 10 days in the steaming jungles of New Guinea within eight of the Japanese, Marine Capt. Herschel Horton, 29, scribbled a letter to his parents and told them he was not afraid to die.
Horton died last December, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Horton, did not receive the letter until last night. The letter, scrawled on the pages of a small notebook, told how Horton was shot in the leg and hip Dec. 1, while identifying Americans dead on a mercy mission.
For two days, Horton said he lay in a state of semi-delirium.
The letter said in part:
"Finally, Lieutenant Gibbs and one of his men from the anti-tank company came to me. Their medico also came up. The medico gave me (missing).
Lieutenant Gibbs promised me aid. I never saw him again. The medico came back and gave me water, but a man helping him got shot there, and that scared him away.
"Life from then on was a terrible nightmare. The hot, burning sun-the delirious nights. No one came (missing) which was wonderful to me, although it was polluted by all the rotting bodies within 12 or 14 feet of me.
(Missing) my commander came by but they could never find me. On two or three occasions they nearly got to me, when the Japs or a rainstorm came.
The Japs are living within 13 yards of me. I see them every day. I have tried to make splints and crawl or walk out, but I just can't make it.
Today is Dec. 11 (believed to be the day on which he died) and I managed to stand. But I could go no farther.
" A Jap shot me in the shoulder and neck as I weakly sat there, and I thought my time had come. But no; I sit and lie here in this terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me, but why he is making me suffer this terrible ordeal."
"It is true I understand life and its reasons now, but why should He send it to this terrible grave with me? Why not let me live and tell others?"
"I am not afraid to die, although I have nearly lost my faith a couple of days here. I have a pistol here but I could not kill myself. I still have faith in the Lord. I think He must be giving me the supreme test. I know now how Christ felt on the cross."
Adams County, Indiana Historical Museum Scrapbook
Scrapbook "1943Nov-Dec1945" Image 5
Transcribed by Janice Vasilovski
Herschel died in New Guinea, from battle wounds during WWII. His dying words, written to his parents were commigrated in the book: The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson. His words and his sacrifice echo even today. (Information provided by Stuart Weddle)
*
Handwritten-Mon. Nov. 22, 1943
"I'm Not Afraid to Die" Says Marine's Last Word to Parents
AURORA, ILL., Nov. 11 (UP)-After lying wounded for 10 days in the steaming jungles of New Guinea within eight of the Japanese, Marine Capt. Herschel Horton, 29, scribbled a letter to his parents and told them he was not afraid to die.
Horton died last December, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Horton, did not receive the letter until last night. The letter, scrawled on the pages of a small notebook, told how Horton was shot in the leg and hip Dec. 1, while identifying Americans dead on a mercy mission.
For two days, Horton said he lay in a state of semi-delirium.
The letter said in part:
"Finally, Lieutenant Gibbs and one of his men from the anti-tank company came to me. Their medico also came up. The medico gave me (missing).
Lieutenant Gibbs promised me aid. I never saw him again. The medico came back and gave me water, but a man helping him got shot there, and that scared him away.
"Life from then on was a terrible nightmare. The hot, burning sun-the delirious nights. No one came (missing) which was wonderful to me, although it was polluted by all the rotting bodies within 12 or 14 feet of me.
(Missing) my commander came by but they could never find me. On two or three occasions they nearly got to me, when the Japs or a rainstorm came.
The Japs are living within 13 yards of me. I see them every day. I have tried to make splints and crawl or walk out, but I just can't make it.
Today is Dec. 11 (believed to be the day on which he died) and I managed to stand. But I could go no farther.
" A Jap shot me in the shoulder and neck as I weakly sat there, and I thought my time had come. But no; I sit and lie here in this terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me, but why he is making me suffer this terrible ordeal."
"It is true I understand life and its reasons now, but why should He send it to this terrible grave with me? Why not let me live and tell others?"
"I am not afraid to die, although I have nearly lost my faith a couple of days here. I have a pistol here but I could not kill myself. I still have faith in the Lord. I think He must be giving me the supreme test. I know now how Christ felt on the cross."
Adams County, Indiana Historical Museum Scrapbook
Scrapbook "1943Nov-Dec1945" Image 5
Transcribed by Janice Vasilovski
*
Handwritten-Mon. Nov. 22, 1943
"I'm Not Afraid to Die" Says Marine's Last Word to Parents
AURORA, ILL., Nov. 11 (UP)-After lying wounded for 10 days in the steaming jungles of New Guinea within eight of the Japanese, Marine Capt. Herschel Horton, 29, scribbled a letter to his parents and told them he was not afraid to die.
Horton died last December, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Horton, did not receive the letter until last night. The letter, scrawled on the pages of a small notebook, told how Horton was shot in the leg and hip Dec. 1, while identifying Americans dead on a mercy mission.
For two days, Horton said he lay in a state of semi-delirium.
The letter said in part:
"Finally, Lieutenant Gibbs and one of his men from the anti-tank company came to me. Their medico also came up. The medico gave me (missing).
Lieutenant Gibbs promised me aid. I never saw him again. The medico came back and gave me water, but a man helping him got shot there, and that scared him away.
"Life from then on was a terrible nightmare. The hot, burning sun-the delirious nights. No one came (missing) which was wonderful to me, although it was polluted by all the rotting bodies within 12 or 14 feet of me.
(Missing) my commander came by but they could never find me. On two or three occasions they nearly got to me, when the Japs or a rainstorm came.
The Japs are living within 13 yards of me. I see them every day. I have tried to make splints and crawl or walk out, but I just can't make it.
Today is Dec. 11 (believed to be the day on which he died) and I managed to stand. But I could go no farther.
" A Jap shot me in the shoulder and neck as I weakly sat there, and I thought my time had come. But no; I sit and lie here in this terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me, but why he is making me suffer this terrible ordeal."
"It is true I understand life and its reasons now, but why should He send it to this terrible grave with me? Why not let me live and tell others?"
"I am not afraid to die, although I have nearly lost my faith a couple of days here. I have a pistol here but I could not kill myself. I still have faith in the Lord. I think He must be giving me the supreme test. I know now how Christ felt on the cross."
Adams County, Indiana Historical Museum Scrapbook
Scrapbook "1943Nov-Dec1945" Image 5
Transcribed by Janice Vasilovski
Inscription
Illinois - 1st Lieut. 126 Inf. 32 Div. - World War II
Gravesite Details
Interment Date: 7/12/1948
Family Members
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