Medical Corps, 5th U.S. Army

Hometown: Ormsby

Killed in action 27 September 1944, Italy
Age: 28

Buried: McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette Twp
Repatriated: 22 November 1949

Awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on September 27, 1944. As word was received in the Battalion aid station, which was a small Italian church, that two soldiers were seriously wounded and lying five hundred yards forward of a rifle company command post, Sgt. Gorton volunteered to bring aid and plasma to the men. Two previous attempts were stopped by intense German automatic weapons and small arms fire. Gorton had a rifle squad deployed to give cover fire and crawled forward under the heavy fire. On his way across the open field, he was hit with three enemy bullets. He was carried back to the battalion aid station and the doctor did all he could to save him. Sgt. Gorton died at the foot of the church alter. His gallant sacrifice of life in volunteering for an extremely hazardous mission reflected great credit upon himself and his unit.

John F Gorton