T-5 Gene Morton Kills Three Japs, Saves Four
Yanks
With the First Calvary Division on Luzon, June 25.
Technician Second Grade Gene Morton of Paragould, Ark. was credited with killing
three Jap soldiers and saving the lives of four American comrades in a recent
engagement on Luzon.
Halfway across a large river near the town of Ghfanta.
Morton and seven buddies were met with enemy fire. They had to withdraw 500
yards down the river and make the crossing. Upon reaching the opposite side.
Morton and the soldiers encircled the Japs and killed 25. Although loaded down
with medical supplies, the Arkansas Veteran shot one of the " Sons of Nippon"
with his carbine after continuing down the river, they encountered the same type
of opposition and Morton got two more Japs.
In this latter battle, four Americans were badly wounded.
Although they were lying in a exposed position, Morton crawled forward to them,
immediatley administering first aid and even making an improvisied splint out of
a tree limb for one of the wounded's broken arm. After calling for another man
to help, the lad from Paragould managed to get the four casualties back to
safety at a first aid station. The trip back was over 1,000 yard. The four
casulties are now back fighting with their units.
Cpl. Morton has served with the 7th Calvary Regiment since
coming overseas on June 26, 1943. He entered the Army on October 16,1942 and
took basic training at Camp Barkley, Tex. The combat veteran attended Dixie High
School and the Atlas Aircraft Trade School in St. Louis, Mo. He was employed by
the St. Louis, Blow-Pipe Company as a sheet-metal Instrument man prior to his
induction into the service.
Morton's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Morton, live at
Paragould, route one. A brother, Pfc. Burney Morton, is in the Marines on
Guam.
Submitted by: Otto Morton nephew of Eugene (Gene) Morton brother of
Barney, Bernice, Burney, Louellen, Georgia, Lawrence Morton. Son of
Shelburn Hendrix and Edith (Lambert) Morton.