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PFC Richard Laverne Elston

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PFC Richard Laverne Elston

Birth	:	19 Aug 1928 Davis City, Decatur County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	20 Apr 1947 Tirrenia, Provincia di Pisa, Toscana, Italy
Burial	:	IOOF Cemetery, Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.6405800, -93.8174600
Description	:	Richard was the youngest son of Leonard and Kate Elston. He completed 2 yrs of highschool and was trained as a tinsmith, coppersmith and sheet metal worker. Richard enlisted in the Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesoto on 2 Mar 1946, at the age of 17. He was assigned to the Panama Canal Department, and was later sent to Italy. He was a member of 913 Field Artillery Battalion, part of the 88th Infantry Division, The Blue Devils. An italian civilian who was only a boy at the time, wrote the following: "A few months before the war, the American... Read More	Richard was the youngest son of Leonard and Kate Elston. He completed 2 yrs of highschool and was trained as a tinsmith, coppersmith and sheet metal worker. Richard enlisted in the Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesoto on 2 Mar 1946, at the age of 17. He was assigned to the Panama Canal Department, and was later sent to Italy. He was a member of 913 Field Artillery Battalion, part of the 88th Infantry Division, The Blue Devils. An italian civilian who was only a boy at the time, wrote the following: "A few months before the war, the American liberators were just average citizens. They were busy planning their future, thinking about what kind of career to undertake, or what college to attend, or they were saving money for their children's future. Suddenly, they were catapulted into a war that neither they, nor their country, had caused or desired. Many of those young people probably had never travelled outside of their home state, let alone their country. But they undertook the longest trip of their life, coming to fight in the streets of a small town in northeast Italy. They came to eradicate the most ignoble political and military order that has ever subjugated Europe, in order that nothing like it could be repeated in the future. In their journey, they had the support of so many other people that in various ways had chosen to refuse the dictatorship. I want to remember and honor the Allied soldiers and the partisans that fought for the liberty of everyone, especially the 88th "Blue Devils" Infantry Division". Richard was still a teenager during WWII. His participation came after the war, as part of the border control in Italy. After the end of the war against Germany, the 88th division was entrusted to guard and to check the great number of German prisoners held in many prison camps along the peninsula. One of the last duties of Italian Campaign of the 88th division was to garrison the Morgan line, (borderline between Italy and Yugoslavia). A highly risky sector where different accidents happened. Richard was killed while deployed to Italy. "Haec Manus ob Partiam" ("This Hand for my Country")

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is PFC Richard Laverne Elston's memorial?
PFC Richard Laverne Elston's memorial is located at: IOOF Cemetery, Davis City, Decatur County, USA.
When did PFC Richard Laverne Elston death?
PFC Richard Laverne Elston death on 20 Apr 1947 in Tirrenia, Provincia di Pisa, Toscana, Italy
Where are the coordinates of the PFC Richard Laverne Elston's memorial?
Latitude: 40.6405800
Longitude: -93.8174600

Family Members:

Parent

Leonard Lionel Elston

(1890 - 1934)

Katherine “Kate” Bonnett Elston

(1890 - 1974)

Siblings

Leland Wayne “Lee” Elston

(1913 - 1982)

Velva Louise Elston Ashburn

(1915 - 2005)

Charles Sidney “Chas' or 'Sid” Elston

(1919 - 2005)

Frank Leonard “Frankie” Elston

(1924 - 1982)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. IOOF Cemetery
Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6405800, -93.8174600

2. Old Davis City Cemetery
Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6415100, -93.8115800

3. Gore Cemetery
Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6599362, -93.7980080

4. New Buda Cemetery
Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6027448, -93.8314819

5. Bethel Cemetery
Eden Township, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6659260, -93.7716150

6. Creveling Cemetery
Lamoni, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6309232, -93.8984728

7. Terre Haute Cemetery
Terre Haute, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6836646, -93.8800621

8. Campbell Cemetery
Pleasanton, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5892760, -93.7632110

9. Hamilton Cemetery
Pleasanton, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5956001, -93.7478027

10. Miller Cemetery
Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7026000, -93.8592000

11. Bucy Cemetery
Decatur City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6902056, -93.8869286

12. Campbell Burying Ground
Leon, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6888910, -93.7391110

13. Manchester Cemetery
Eden Township, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7078971, -93.7592232

14. New Salem Cemetery
Davis City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6304591, -93.7118661

15. Downey Cemetery
Harrison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5581017, -93.8606033

16. Hutchison Cemetery
Mercer County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5716450, -93.7435150

17. South Cemetery
Mercer County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5710983, -93.7427979

18. Catholic Cemetery
Harrison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5522003, -93.8380966

19. Hatfield Cemetery
Leon, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6888920, -93.7168880

20. Miller Cemetery
Harrison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5491982, -93.8142014

21. Waller Cemetery
Decatur City, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7333340, -93.8168900

22. Cowles Cemetery
Pleasanton, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6058006, -93.6999969

23. Lillie Cemetery
Lamoni, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6565829, -93.9418602

24. Dale Cemetery
Pleasanton, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6211014, -93.6936035