3 of 4 Dutton Sons in Service; Fly in Army, Navy, Marines

Complete transcription

The family at war.

SPARTA — Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dutton, Angelo, will have to act as arbitrators when their four sons return from the wars and start fighting a war of their own — a war over the question, “Who is supreme in the air, the air force of the army, the navy, or the marines?” Having a son in each of the three air services, Mr. and Mrs. Dutton are sure to face that issue.

The Duttons originally had four sons in the air forces, but Lieut. Kenneth, 22, who served three years overseas with army air corps, was sent back to the States with several minor injuries and enrolled in the officer’s candidate school at Ft. Belvoir, Va. He graduated from there on Sept. 1, 1942, and placed in the engineering corps, going overseas with them just before the holidays.

The representative of the family in the naval air corps is Chief Petty Officer Eldon, 24, who left Wednesday to return to his base at San Diego, Calif., after a three week leave. He was accompanied by his wife and their 2 year old son, John, whom Eldon had not seen until he came home.

Eldon, who will observe his fifth anniversary of service in April, was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked and wears service ribbons with seven silver stars signifying seven major engagements. As gunner he had a big part in the battles and has seen war at Guadalcanal, and other islands in the Pacific. Although his plane was crippled in service and members of his crew were lost in combat, Eldon came through safely. Eighteen holes were shot into one of the planes.

Staff Sgt. Ralph Dutton, 20, is now in Italy serving in the army air corps. He took part in the invasion of North Africa, Italy, and Sicily, and furnished protection for the Dieppe raid. A recent report gave 111 planes to the credit of Ralph’s outfit. A letter received this week, written Dec. 23, indicated that Ralph was staying in a hotel, undoubtedly at a rest camp after major combat.

La Vern, 19, the youngest of the flying brothers, is with the marine air corps in Hawaii. La Vern is taking airology training and expects to return to the States next month for the further training. He enlisted in July, 1942. La Vern, former star football player with the Sparta high school is 6 foot 3 inches and weighs 190 pounds.

Each of the brothers enlisted after their graduation from Sparta high school. They have two younger brothers Wayne, 14, and Rollin, 12, who have more than just a passing interest in aviation. A sister, Mrs. Minert De Voe, Angelo, was a World War I baby born while her father was serving his country.

Dutton, who served overseas in the first World war, is now superintendent of roads and grounds at Camp McCoy and has been in the service of the government at Camp McCoy almost continuously since his discharge from the army. Mrs. Dutton is proud of her fighting family and “I’m willing to make any sacrifices asked of me in order that my boys come home as soon as possible,” she said.