WIFE FLIES FROM GERMANY

Wayne Co. Man Killed In War Buried Today

A unit from the Mt. Vernon National Guard company will provide military honors for Sgt. Earl Shelton, Wayne County's first dead in Viet Nam fighting, in final rites at Geff this afternoon.

The services for the 25-year-old soldier son of the Rev. and Mrs. H. A. Shelton, of Geff, will be conducted at 2 p.m. from the Geff grade school gymnasium, with the Rev. Clyde Sinclair officiating, assisted by Bro. RoY Collins.

Interment will be in the Buckeye cemetery near Geff. DeSelms Funearl Home is in charge.

The National Guard will provide the pallbearers, a firing squad and bugler for the graveside military rites, which also include presentation fo the American flag.

The body was flown by TWA flight from San Francisco, Calif., to St. Louis' Lambert Field Saturday mroning, with Sgt. Donald Moore as military escort. The body was then brought to Cisne by a DeSems hearse. Sgt. Moore is remaining as military escort until Sgt. Shelton is buried.

The body was taken from DeSelms Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Monday to the Shelton family home northeast of Geff, where there will be only private family vistation.

The casket was open for the public visitation at the funeral home Saturday evening and Sunday.

Sgt. Shelton was killed in heavy fighting near the Cambodian border the first week of May. He had been in Viet Nam with the First Air Cavalry Division less than a week when killed.

Widow in Germany

His wife, two children, his parents, three brothers and two sisters survive.

The widow, her baby daughter and her mother were flown to this country from Germany last week by the U.S. government so they could attend the funeral.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register-News, page 1
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 1966
Transcribed and submitted by: Sandy (Whalen) Bauer