In Memory of Army Captain
Gerald McVey Porter
Flandreau, South Dakota
Moody County
April 5, 1911—April 25, 1942
Killed in Action in the Far Eastern Theater
Gerald Porter was born at Colman, South Dakota, on April 5, 1911, the son of John Porter who was at one time the sheriff of Moody County. Gerald first married Arvilla Gullickson at Flandreau, but she died in an auto accident in 1939. Early in 1940, Gerald left for field training as part of the National Guard. Gerald then married Arlyne Waters on October 30, 1940, at Primghar, Iowa; the couple was together while Porter was at Ft. Ord in California where he was initially and subsequently stationed. Gerald and Arlyne had two sons: David and Gerald.
After Ft. Ord, Porter was sent to study firing at Officers’ Training School at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma. Upon returning to Ft. Ord, Capt. Porter was made “personal adjutant, served as a reconnaissance officer, as assistant plans and training officer.” Before going overseas, Capt. Porter was transferred in late October of 1941 to Battery F, the Vermillion, SD, unit of the National Guard.
After arriving in December of 1941 in Australia as part of the 147th Field Artillery Headquarters Battery, Capt. Porter was assigned to the staff offices. In early May, 1942, Gerald’s wife received the following news:
The Secretary of War desires to express his deepest
regret in informing you that your husband was killed
in action in the defense of his country in the Far Eastern
theater on April 25. Delay in reporting the fact was apparently
caused by war conditions.
Capt. Gerald Porter was buried overseas in M 855, National Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. He was awarded the Purple Heart. The Kelley-Porter Post #70 American Legion at Flandreau is named in part for him.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Kyle Kloeckl, 8th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, November 22, 2000. Information for this entry was provided by a clipping sent to us by Betty Smith and an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment.
