My family has been fortunate. Only one ancestor was killed in action, John McClelland. In 1776, John was appointed to a citizen's committee to procure arms and ammunition for the defense of the county against the British as the sparks of the American Revolution were kindled. He with two of his sons John Jr. and Alexander enlisted in the Colonia Militia of Pennsylvania.
When the Indians of the Western Frontier allied themselves with the British and began attacking settlers, John Sr. was commissioned a major and made third in command of an expedition to eliminate this menace. During the Battle of Sandusky (Ohio) on 4 July 1782, he and two other officers were captured, tortured, and killed. A gruesome eyewitness account recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives details the manner in which the bodies of the prisoners "were dragged to the outside of the town and their carcasses given to the dogs while their limbs and heads were stuck on poles." Because of this sacrifice, the commission of Lt. Colonel was conferred upon him.
My mother-in-law's favorite cousin, Byron King, was killed serving his country. On November 4, 1944. his plane was shot up during a bombing raid over Italy. They ditched at sea, all crew members were saved except Byron. He made sure the crew members made it out, and went back into the plane to get the life raft, but the plane went under while he was in it.
His body was brought back to the US, and he's buried in Cedar Park Cemetery, Calumet City, Cook County, Illinois.
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