Cleo Whorton

Private First Class

United States Army

Cleo Whorton, the son of William B. and Bertha H. (Hillgartner) Whorton, was born in Burlington, Iowa on 28 October 1924. 

After his mother’s death, Cleo lived with his grandparents (William and Nora Whorton) during the school year and with his aunt Elizabeth Krakel during the summer months.  Cleo was a member of the First Christian Church.

He attended schools in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School on 6 June 1942.

Prior to entering the U.S. Army on 20 June 1943, Cleo worked at the West Burlington Shops.  He took his basic training at Camp Callon in San Diego, California and received additional training at Fort Bliss, Texas and Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.  On 17 July 1944, he left for Fort Meade, Maryland where he served with Company E, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

Loren Whorton, Cleo’s brother, received a War Department telegram informing him that Cleo was Killed-In-Action in Germany on 25 October 1944, just days before his 20th birthday.  Cleo was buried at the American Cemetery in Henri Chapel, Belgium.  After the war, the family requested that his remains be brought back to Burlington.  Burial, with military honors, was held in Aspen Grove Cemetery.

Cleo was an innocent young man whose main concern was the safety and well-being of Loren’s family.  He never complained about his life being interrupted by the demand of a terrible war.  If Cleo was afraid, he never showed it.  His only fear was that his brother would be taken away from the family that Cleo loved. 

Cleo’s father, sister Joyce, brother Loren, and an uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Krekel, with whom he made his home, survived Cleo.  His mother preceded him in death.

Source of information:

1.  12 November 1944, War Department telegram.

2.  Burlington Hawkeye Gazette, 12 November 1944, page 2.

3.  National World War II Memorial veteran’s registry; http://www.wwiimemorial.com

4.  1942 Pathfinder Yearbook, Burlington High School, page 23.

5.  Des Moines County Iowa Veterans Buried with Markers, compiled by the Des Moines County Genealogical Society, 1984.

6.  e-Mail from Judith Henderson on 20 October 2004.  Judith is Cleo’s niece.

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