Hero added to Fallen Warriors Wall

The Tri-City community paid tribute Monday to all soldiers who died serving their country, including an almost-forgotten hero from Patterson executed during World War II after attempting to rescue fellow soldiers.
Following a Memorial Day ceremony held at Cypress Park in Morgan City, a wreath was placed at the Fallen Warriors Memorial next to the park in memory of Pvt. Donald Ray Anthony Roberton, whose name recently became the 68th name to appear on the memorial’s Wall of Honor.
The wall honors those soldiers who were killed in wartime during combat or who died later of wounds suffered in combat.
On Veterans Day 2014, organizers for the Fallen Warriors Memorial held a special ceremony to dedicate the memorial honoring soldiers from the Tri-City area who died during combat or as a result of combat wounds.
“Today, we sadly add another name to our Wall of Honor,” said Fallen Warriors Memorial Co-Chairman Terry Mayon.
In summer 2015, Mayon learned from Joe Governale of Patterson, himself a veteran of the battles of Luzon and New Guinea, that he remembered a Roberton with whom he’d attended school, according to documents Mayon provided The Daily Review.
According to eyewitness accounts, Roberton was executed by Japanese Imperial Army soldiers at Kwajalein Island Oct. 16, 1942, Mayon said. Roberton’s body was never recovered.
Mayon’s research showed that Roberton moved with his family from Patterson to Franklin in the 1930s to continue working in the cypress logging industry.
Roberton had been listed as missing in action, so his name didn’t show up on any rolls that listed soldiers killed in combat, Mayon said. Also, Roberton’s name was mistakenly recorded as “Robertson” in some census records.
“There were quite a few things that were working against actually finding him originally,” Mayon said.
Roberton was a student at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now UL-Lafayette, when the U.S. entered World War II. He immediately left school, joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to Company B of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.
On Aug. 18, 1942, after safely leaving Makin Island in the Pacific, Roberton, along with four other Marines, volunteered to return to the island in an attempt to rescue other Marines who were still trapped, Mayon said.
“It was believed that Pvt. Roberton was killed in this rescue attempt. And for his heroism and sacrifice, Pvt. Roberton was awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy and Marine Corps’ highest honor, second only to the Medal of Honor,” Mayon said. Roberton also received the Purple Heart.
The guest speaker for Monday’s ceremony was retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Duval Arthur. Arthur currently serves as director of the St. Mary Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Memorial Day is a time to remember those soldiers who gave their lives “for the love of our country, our flag and our freedoms,” Arthur said.
Arthur thanked every person who has died in service to the country.
“We cannot shake their hands or give them a hug today, but your thoughts and prayers will be known to them,” Arthur said.
What’s called Memorial Day today was originally Declaration Day, arising “from the ashes of the Civil War” when 620,000 soldiers lost their lives, he said.
Fallen soldiers paid “the ultimate sacrifice for freedom’s future” and provide Americans the “freedom to live, work and worship as they wish,” Arthur said.
These heroes came from “all walks of life” but shared certain qualities, including courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity, Arthur said.
“They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect a nation that’s given us so much,” Arthur said.
Even as soldiers continue to lose their lives in the line of duty today, “more Americans step forward to say I’m ready to serve,” Arthur said.
“If we honor and remember those who have served, compassion will prevail, justice will triumph, and freedom will reign,” Arthur said.