Histories

Mrs. C. J. Hutto received word that her brother, Private 1st class Willis Arnold Porter, had been killed in action somewhere in the South Pacific theatre.

The Porter family now live at 618 East Broadway, in Newton, and Willis graduated from Newton high school in 1935. Two other brothers, Carl and Archie Porter now live in Newton.

He had been in the service about twenty months, or since Nov. 11, 1942.

For nearly a year and a half prior to June 23, 1944, Arnold Porter, of Newton and Ora Murphy of Topeka, were buddies together in the 165th United States infantry, belonging to the same company and the same squad. They agreed together that should they go into battle and one failed to return, the other should not only write to the home folks of the pal who had fallen, but would go and see them when opportunity came.

Then on the fateful date mentioned above, the fatal battle came. It was on Saipan, Arnold Porter, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Porter, of Newton was killed. The parents received the official word from the war department , and in due time came a letter from Ora Murphy, whom the parents had never seen. He told them about it, and declared there never was a finer soldier, nor a cleaner, square-shooting, Christian boy ever lived than their son.

That estimate, is shared by those who knew the Newton boy at home. He was a carrier boy at the Kansan office and worked at other employment in the newspaper office here and was popular and liked by all.

Upon returning to his home, Ora Murphy came to Newton from Topeka, especially to see, visit with and comfort Arnold's parents, just as he had agreed to do. He served 31 months overseas, and has received his discharge, and is now at home with his wife at Topeka.

There was that certain sweet sorrow again experienced as the incidents of those ordeals on Saipan were again gone over and the sacrifice of their son was again brought fresh to the minds of Mr. and Mrs. Porter. And they welcomed Arnold's buddy as their own son. A reporter who talked with Ora a few minuets, also acquired a distinct admiration and regard for the veteran hero. "I would expected him to as much for me," was just about the extent of the direct comment's he would make on his visit to his fallen comrade's parents. Both their lives were in the balance on that far away dot of soil and rocks in the Pacific. No civilian can ever know the depth of the comradeship that grows between friends under the stress and uncertainty of battle.