During World War II, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment activated at Fort Benning, Georgia in July of 1942 and later became a part of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army. The 505th PIR was stationed in Tunisia and was a part of the Allied invasion of Sicily. They then were stationed in England and participated in the Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war’s end in Europe in May of 1945, the 505th PIR served as Occupation Forces in Berlin, Germany. The regiment received two Presidential Unit Citations.

Green County soldier, Verlaine B. Alton was a member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Verlaine B. Alton was born in Divide County, North Dakota on January 17, 1921 to Charles A. and Elsie (Wheeler) Alton. His mother Elsie Wheeler was born in Iowa. However, Elsie’s parents Reuben Wheeler and Alice Grinnell were both born in Green County. 

On November 1, 1915 Elsie Wheeler and Charles Alton married at Glendive in Dawson County, Montana. 

On the 1920 Census, the Charles and Elsie Alton family were living in Coalfield Township, Divide County, North Dakota. The family included son Verdun, daughter Verona, and son Vernon. All the children were born in North Dakota. Father Charley was working as a miner in a coalfield.

On the 1930 Census father Charles, brother Verdun, and sister Verona were living at separate locations in North Dakota. This researcher could not find mother Elsie, and sons Vernon or Verlaine on the census.

In September 1938, Elsie Wheeler Alton’s father died in Monroe in Green County. From Robert Le Roy Wheeler’s obituary it was noted that including his survivors of two daughters and two sons was his daughter Mrs. Elsie Alton of Monroe. The obituary stated “He has been residing with his daughter, Mrs. Alton, and granddaughter Miss Verona Alton.”

As early as March of 1939, Private Verlaine B. Alton was serving with Troop A of the Second Calvary at Fort Riley, Kansas. He appears on monthly rosters of troops from March of 1939 through December of 1939.

From the May 1940 US Census for Verlaine Alton, he was residing at the Fort Riley Military Reservation in Smoky Hill Township in Geary County, Kansas. He was single, 19, and had completed 8 years of school. He was a Private with Troop A, 2nd Cavalry of the US Army.

Verlaine Alton’s brothers Verdun and Verne and sister Verona all served in the military during World War II. Sister Verona Alton married Milton Cline of Green County. Milton Cline served as 2nd Lieutenant with the US Army during WWII. His wife Verona Alton Cline served as a Corporal with the WAC with the USAAF in WWII.

Private Alton was killed in action in Normandy, France on June 21, 1944. He is listed on the Honor Roll for Green County, Wisconsin with the National Archives.

From the September 26, 1944 The Capital Times listing of recent soldiers killed in action, the list included Pvt. Verlaine B. Alton and his next of kin was his sister, Mrs. Verona Cline of Monroe, Wisconsin.

From the online National WWII Memorial, Verallyn & M. Jay Cline honored Verlaine B. Alton with a memorial message that included the following information: “On June 6, 1944, parachuted and landed near Ste. Mere Eglise, France. Was killed near Etienneville, France on June 21, 1944.”

Private Alton was buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Thank you, Private Verlaine B. Alton, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.

— If you have a Green County family member you would like to remember or have photos or information to contribute to their story, contact HansonHeritage@gmail.com. If you would like to volunteer to honor and remember WWII fallen servicemen and women from anywhere in the United States, visit https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/ for more information.