Lewis Samuel Horton, Jr.

Graduating Class
1940

Major
Vocational Agricultural Education

Activities at Clemson
Cadet, Corporal, First Sergeant, Lieutenant Colonel, Second Battalion Commander; Palmetto Literary Society; Grange, Dairy Club; Scabbard and Blade; President Senior Council; Chesterfield Clemson Club; Commencement Marshall; Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Platoon; First Sergeants Club; Leader Senior Platoon; ROTC Camp at Fort McClellan, Alabama; Basketball Manager

Hometown
Pageland, South Carolina

Family
Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Horton, Sr., Pageland, S.C.

Service & Rank
Army, Captain

Unit
Commander, Company C, 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division

Awards/Citations
Silver Star (awarded posthumously), Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal

Date of Birth
Jan 5, 1919

Date of Death
Dec 9, 1943

Details of Death
Killed in Action from wounds received from sniper fire during the battles for San Pietro.

Burial Details
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery - Plot H, Row 6, Grave 2; Memorialized in First Baptist Church Cemetery, Pageland, SC

Barrow Stone Location
SW

Personal Remembrances

While at Clemson, Horton was nicknamed “Ack."

"My Uncle and namesake, Capt Lewis S. Horton Jr, was killed in action in the invasion of Italy, by sniper fire, after having served in the North African campaign. He is buried in the Anzio-Rome Military Cemetary which I will visit this coming April (2010). At Clemson he was the leader of the Senior Platoon. The Victory Peel of Bells in Tillman Hall Tower (which is the cornerstone of the Clemson Memorial Carillon) was dedicated in his honor (and to all Clemson men who have given their lives in the defense of this nation) by my late Uncle R. G. Horton, Class of '30 in 1985."

Lewis S. Horton, Attorney at Law

Lisa Sharik, Deputy Director, Texas Military Museum, provided the After Action Report. She also stated: “Captain Lewis Horton was in Command of Company C from October 19, 1943 until his death. He was the second commander for the unit since it had landed at Salerno.” www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org

Additional Information

Capt., U.S. Army. Born Jan 5, 1919. Graduated from Clemson College and then spent 6 months at the U.S. Military Academy. Entered the service Feb 1, 1941, and was stationed at Camp Wheeler, Ga.; Camp Crowder, MO,; Ft. McClellan, Ala,; Camp Blanding, Fla.; Carolina Maneuvers; Camp Edwards, Boston, Mass,; N. Africa; Sicily. Killed in action in Italy, Dec. 9, 1943. Baptist. Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Horton, Sr., Pageland, S.C.

Citation for Silver Star:

“For gallantry in action on 8 December 1943, in the vicinity of [redacted]. In the face of heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, Company “C” was advancing up [redacted] ever most rugged terrain and through inclement weather. Their order was to meet and destroy the enemy who was firmly entrenched. After reaching the top of the mountain with his company, Captain Horton called his platoon leaders together. Crawling over rugged, wet terrain, he led each of his officers to points of vantage from which they could actually see their objectives and routes of approach, pointing them out and explaining the plan of attack. While giving commands under intense fire, Captain Morton was fatally wounded. So well had he planned for that attack, that his platoon leaders and men carried out the orders and destroyed the enemy, accomplishing their mission. Captain Horton’s display of outstanding aggressive leadership, and calmness under fire, and his brilliant planning was responsible for his company’s successful attack. His gallant action reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”