July 20, 2006

 Message from Steven D. Hobbs;
 

I am looking for any information anyone may have on a Gordon (Zeke) H. Alton, who was captured with Hq Btry, Harbor Defenses of Manila & Subic Bays.  His name is actually Gordon Elton, but in the military he used Alton, long story as to why. In Korea he was known as "Zeke," I believe that nickname may have been used in WW II also, The following is what I know:
 
16 Nov. 1916  Born Prince Alberta, Sasc., Canada
?                   Enlisted in CCC, later in US Army
~ 1940           B Troop, 4th Cavalry, Ft. Mead, So. Dakota
~ 1941           To Philippines
03 Mar. 1942  MP PFC assigned to Headquarters Battery, Harbor Defenses of Manila & Subic Bays
~ 1942           Certainly must have been at 92nd Garage, Bilibid, poss. Cabanatuan or Nickels Field.  Underwent stomach surgery.  At one point was thought dead.
                     Either Perry Wilcox or Fr. John Duffy pulled him out of the pile for burial.
15 Aug. 1944  Onboard Noto Maru, Company One, #115
09 Sep. 1944   Sendai #6, Hanawa POW Camp Japan, worked underground in Mitsubishi copper mine. POW #H-419.
~ Aug. 1945    Liberated from camp
Nov. 1945        Schick General Hospital, Clinton Iowa
Nov. 1946        CPL with guard company in Milwaukee, Wisc.
1948               Stationed in Alaska
~ 1950/51       Sgt. in C Battery, 300th Armored Field Artillery, Korea  (A Wyoming NG unit)
09 Sept. 1951  Killed in action near Punchbowl, Korea.  (His dog tripped a grenade, which killed him).
Jan. 1952        Buried Deer River, Minnesota
 
I sure would like to fill in the blanks on the above. For my family and for myself. If any of this triggers a memory or if he shows up on some listing, I would appreciate hearing about it.
 
Steven D. Hobbs, Ph.D., R.N., BC  (Nephew)
Kahalu'u, Hawai'i
hobbss001@hawaii.rr.com