Captain Donald Anderson “Totsy” Kilpatrick, U. S. Army [February 16, 1916 - September 8, 1944] was born to James Franklin "Frank" Kilpatrick [August 24, 1889 - October 17, 1950] and Ada Della (Anderson) Kilpatrick [August 23, 1893 - December 2, 1972] at Jacksboro, Jack County, Texas.  His parents were married on December 1, 1910 at Jack County and moved to Clemville, Matagorda County, Texas when he was a small child, and he lived there until entering college. In 1920, his mother and father separated with his father moving to Dallas and his mother remaining at Clemville where she later remarried to Henry Frank Johnson. Capt. Kilpatrick graduated from Markham High School in May, 1935 and entered Sam Houston College in Huntsville in September of that year.  He graduated from Sam Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in August 1938, and entered law school at the University of Texas that same fall, and remained there until he was called to active duty. As a member of the National Guard, he was attached to the 143^rd Infantry, 36^th Division, and was a Staff Sergeant at the time of his recall.  After being stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas for several months he was selected for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.  After obtaining his commission, he was retained there as an instructor, receiving rapid promotion to the rank of Captain. Capt. Kilpatrick married Miss Joyzell Longshore of Austin, Texas on April 27, 1942.  He volunteered for overseas duty and was sent to England in April 1944. His assignment was  to the 39^th Infantry Regiment, 9^th Infantry Division, a veteran division of North Africa and Sicily.  The division was withdrawn to England for further training prior to D-Day. They landed in Normandy on the 10^th of June 1944 and were a key element in the battle for the Cotentin Peninsula.  They continued up the western peninsula joining the other assaulting divisions for the attack on Cherbourg.  The division fought its way across France and entered into Belgium.  During the period between September 3 - 13, 1944 the division crossed the Meuse River at Dinant, Belgium.  It was during the ferocious fighting during this battle that Captain Kilpatrick was mortally wounded.  He died from his wounds on September 8^th. His unit earned a  Special Belgium Order of the Day  from the Belgium government for its action. The 9^th Infantry Division was the first Allied Division to enter Belgium territory and was recognized for starting the liberation of the country. He was survived by his wife Joyzell; mother and step-father Ada and Frank; father: James; three sisters: Mrs. Alfred Hansen, Mrs. Freda Stephen and Miss Mildred Johnson; four brothers: Doyle Kilpatrick, Technical Sargent Frank Johnson US Army, Private Harold B. Johnson US Army and Billie Joe Johnson.  Capt. Kilpatrick was first buried in a temporary cemetery in Belgium until his father elected to have his body remain overseas. He is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Plot H, Row 11, Grave 17, which is located at Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
 

Sadness covered the town last week when word was received of the death of Donald Kilpatrick, better known as Totsy. He was serving in the Army somewhere in Belgium. To his homefolks we extend our heartfelt sympathy. Totsy was a graduate of Markham high school and was a law student at Texas University when he enlisted in the army. Mrs. Alfred Hansen is his sister. His mother, Mrs. Frank Johnson lives at Clemville.  

[Newspaper name & date unknown]
 

Captain Kilpatrick was mortally wounded near Dinant, Belgium.
From the collection of Frank Neuhauser of the 300^th Combat Engineer Battalion
 

In Memoriam

Captain Donald A. Kilpatrick of Clemville, who gave his life for his country, his loved ones and friends. The entire community was grieved when, on the first of October his mother, Mrs. Frank Johnson of Clemville, received word from the War Department that Captain Donald A. Kilpatrick was wounded in Belgium on September 7th and died in a hospital in France on September 8th. He was a fine Christian young man, a member of the Methodist Church, and was ever ready and willing to do anything he could for the up building of Christ's Kingdom. He was loved by all who knew him and was known as having a lovely disposition always laughing and jolly.

He was born in Jacksboro, Jack County, Texas, February 16, 1916 and his age was 23 years 6 months and 23 days at the time of his death. His parents moved to Clemville when he was a small child and he lived there until he entered college.

He graduated from Markham High School in May, 1935 and entered Sam Houston College in Huntsville in September 1935. He graduated from Sam Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in August 1938 and entered the Law School at the University of Texas that same fall, and remained there until he was called to active duty.

He was a member of the National Guard, being attached to the 143rd Infantry, 36th Division, and was a Staff Sergeant in the organization when the Guard was called to active duty. After being stationed at Camp Bowie for several months he was selected for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After obtaining his commission there he was retained there as an instructor receiving rapid promotion to the rank of captain. He volunteered for an overseas assignment and was sent to England in April of this year. He took an active part in the invasion and the capture of the Cherbourg Peninsula.

He was married to Miss Joyzell Longshore of Austin, April 27, 1942. He leaves to mourn his loss, his widow at Austin, his mother Mrs. Frank Johnson of Clemville; his father J. F. Kilpatrick of Dallas; three sisters, Mrs. Alfred Hansen of Markham, Mrs. Freda Stephen and Miss Mildred Johnson of Clemville; four brothers, Doyle Kilpatrick of Fairfield, California, Technical Sergeant Frank Johnson, somewhere in England, Private Harold Barton Johnson now stationed at Gainesville, Texas, and Billie Joe Johnson of Clemville, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins and a host of friends. 

The Daily Tribune, Thursday, November 23, 1944
 

JOHNSON

Ada Della Johnson, 79, a resident of Markham, passed away at her home December 2.
 
 Survivors include 3 daughters, Ima Jean Hancock of Jasper, Freda Stephens of Sweeny and Mildred Mengarelli of LaPorte; 4 sons, Doyle Kilpatrick of Fairfield, California, Frank Johnson of Luling, Barton Johnson of Bay City and Billy Joe Johnson of Robstown; 1 sister, Mrs. Jewel McDowell of Jacksboro; 21 grandchildren.
 
 Funeral services were held December 4 at 2 p.m. at the 6th Street Church of Christ in Bay City with Allen Brown officiating. Interment was at the Cedarvale Cemetery with pallbearers being: Johnny Wright, Robert Sunday, Hans Hiltpold, Dan Wendt, Pete Arnold and R. E. Bradshaw.
 
 Taylor Brothers Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
 
 The Daily Tribune,  Monday, December 4, 1972

Photo courtesy of Betty Crosby
 

Funeral Services Friday for Mr. Kilpatrick
 

Funeral services will be held for Mr. James Kilpatrick at 2:30 Friday afternoon at Taylor Brothers Funeral home.

Mr. Kilpatrick passed away Tuesday night following an automobile-train accident in Dallas.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jessie M. Kilpatrick, formerly Miss Merck of Collegeport, one daughter, Mrs. Ima Hansen of Tidehaven, one son, Doyle Kilpatrick of California.

Interment will be in Hawley cemetery with Taylor Brothers in charge of arrangements. Services will be under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge.

The Daily Tribune, October 19, 1950
 

Special thanks to Capt. Kilpatrick's niece, Donna Kilpatrick Stockebrand, for the picture of his marker in Belgium and family information.

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
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