1st Lt. Hershel G. Horton
U.S. Army, 32nd Infantry Division, C. O. I Company

Background
Hershel G. Horton was born on November 15, 1913 in Aurora, Illinois to parents George A. Horton Jr. and Odessa J. Jones Horton. He had one sister, Gwenivere Horton. In 1930, his father worked at All Steel Equipment as a foreman. In 1940, he attended Notre Dame University as a part of the class of 1943.

Wartime History
In April 1941, enlisted in the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant with serial number O-373543. By December 1941, assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division (32nd ID), 126th Infantry Regiment (126th IR) as the Commanding Officer (C. O.) I Company. In 1942 sent overseas across the Pacific to Port Moresby in New Guinea.

Between October to November 1942, Horton commanded I Company on an arduous trek across the Kapa Kapa Trail in the Owen Stanley Range to the north coast of New Guinea. During late November until he was wounded on December 1, 1942 he participated in the Battle of the Beachheads and participated in combat at a road block position (later named Huggins Road Block) located on the trail between Soputa and Sanananda.

On November 30, 1942 U.S. Army soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Division, 126th Infantry Regiment's I Company under the command of 1st Lt. Hershel G. Horton plus the Anti-Tank Company under the command of Captain John Shirley reached a position on the trail to Sanananda by 6:30pm and established a road block (later named the Huggins Road Block) to prevent the Japanese from advancing and enveloped their forward positions.

Wounded In Action (WIA)
On December 1, 1942 Horton was wounded outside the perimeter. On December 2, 1942 Sgt Bernard F. Clarke and another Sergeant volunteered to go outside the lines to rescue Horton. They reached him and returned with a medical aid while attempting to return to friendly lines, they were spotted by the Japanese who opened fire with riles and threw hand grenades, fatally wounding Sgt. Clarke and Sgt. Leland L. Sharp. Learning of the losses, higher headquarters forbid any further attempts to rescue him.

On December 11, 1942 Horton wrote a last letter to his family in his diary. His letter read in part: "I sit here and lay in the terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me; but rather why He is making me suffer this terrible end? 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.... God bless you my loved ones. Keep the faith, don’t worry. I shall see you all again some day. I prepare to meet my Maker." Afterwards, he likely fell unconscious. On December 12, 1942 he died of his wounds.

Recovery of Remains
On December 21, 1942 1st Lt. William A. Sikkel was returning to Huggins Road Block after a ration supply party and elected to search for Horton's remains in the area where his cries for help were heard. He located his body and diary roughly 15 yards from a former Japanese position, roughly 50 yards from the outer perimeter of the road block. He reported his findings and turned over Horton's personal effects including his diary to Major Richard D. Boerem, Executive Officer of the 126th Infantry Regiment. Sometime afterwards, his remains were recovered and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Diary and Last Letter
On October 30, 1942 his diary and personal effects were returned to his parents. Afterwards, his last diary entry to his family was quoted in newspapers and entered into the U.S. Congressional Record as moving testimony of his sacrifices and suffering.

Hershel G. Horton Diary:
"New Guinea December 11, 1942 Dearly Beloved, My dear sweet Father, Mother and Sister, I lay here in this terrible place, wondering not why God has forsaken me, but rather why he is making me suffer."

Memorials
Horton was officially declared dead on December 12, 1942 at age 29. During August 1948, Horton was permanently buried at Spring Lake Cemetery Aurora, IL at plot JW - Tile 75. His marker reads: "Hershel G. Horton, Illinois, 1st Lieut 126 Inf. 32 Div, November 15, 1913 + December 12, 1942".

References
1930 United States Federal Census, Illinois, Kane County, Aurora, District 16, Image 14 "Hershel G Horton"
The Town Talk "12 Officers to go to Fort Benning" December 29, 1941 page 6
"Twelve lieutenants from the 32nd Division will report at Fort Benning, Ga., on January 4 [1942] to attend the rifle and heavy weapons course.... and Hershel G. Horton from the 126th Infantry."
Hershel G. Horton Letter - December 1942
"Testimony of William A. Sikkel, O-888244, First Lieutenant, 126th Infantry" August 15, 1943
Chicago Tribune "Confer Posthumous Awards on Two Army Lieutenants" February 26, 1943 page 8
"The Order of the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to two army officers from the Chicago area, their parents were notified yesterday. They are... Lt. Hershel G. Horton, 29, of 906 Talma Street, Aurora, infantry officer killed Dec. 2 [sic wounded Dec. 1, died Dec. 12] during a battle in New Guinea."
Letter to Mr. George A. Horton, Jr. from Wart Department Lt. Col John R. Murphy, Effects Quartermaster October 30, 1942
The Notre Dame Alumnus Vol 22, No. 4 April 1944 page 6
FindAGrave - Lieut Hershel G. Horton (photos, grave photo)
The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson pages 640 (Horton) and 862 (index)
Red Arrow Across the Pacific: The Thirty-Second Infantry Division during World War II (2024) pages 206, 456 (chapter 6, footnote 107), 482 (index Horton)
Thanks to William A. Sikkel for additional information