Ernest Geddes Broughton was born October 24 [21], 1920 in Whitesboro, NY to William Broughton (1881-1955) and Mary S. Geddes (1886-1978). His parents were married at the Holy Cross Church in Utica, NY. His dad was from England and worked for the Railway (street cars) as a Conductor. His dad came to the United States in 1905. His mom was from Scotland and she came to the United States in 1908. She worked at the Rome Air Base and was a member of Oriskany Chapter No. 424 O.E.S. (Order of the Eastern Star). Ernest was the youngest of their five children which included Martha (abt 1907-?), Sarah (1912-1986), William (abt 1914-?) and Ada (1918-1991). He was a member of the Future Farmers of America and local 4-H club. He competed at local and state Fairs while growing up, often winning awards for his Junior Holstein heifer calves. He was also a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Whitesboro, NY.

Ernest graduated from Whitesboro Central High School in 1940 and worked for Savage Arms Corp. By 1940 the U.S. Census recorded he was 19 years old, now the only child still at home, living with mom and dad at 2 Westmoreland St., Whitesboro, NY. When he registered for the draft on February 14, 1942 he was still living at 2 Westmoreland St, Whitesboro, NY. He was 5'-11" tall, weighed 150 pounds with blue eyes and black hair. He didn't wait to be drafted, joining the Marine Corp in July 1942. He does his basic at Parris Island, S.C. and was assigned to the 20th Marines when they were activated at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in the summer of 1943. His service number 428559.

Late in 1943 the 21st Marines underwent amphibious training and in early 1944 saw their first combat on Kwajalein. After this they were sent back to Camp Maui, Hawaii for rest and refitting. In June 1944 they sailed to the Mariana Islands for the invasion of Saipan. On D-Day (June 15, 1944) of the Saipan invasion the 2nd Battalion of the 20th Marines was part of the shore party, unloading ammunition, evacuating wounded, directing landing craft, organizing supplies on the beaches and salvaging damaged equipment. Their job was to prevent the beaches from becoming a deadly traffic jam. Rough surf added to the chaos. That same day, D-Day June 15, Pfc. Broughton was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a gunshot and brought aboard the USS Sumter (APA-52) where he died from his wounds. He was buried at sea (16oN, 148oE) on June 17, 1944. In July 1944 the American Legion Auxiliary 1113 attended a memorial service for him at St. John's Episcopal Church. In July 1946 Whitesboro held a Homecoming parade and service to welcome home all those men from the area that served. The 14 men from the area that were killed were also honored, Pfc. Broughton was one of them.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

"4-H Club and F.F.A Win Prizes at Boonville Fair", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, August 7, 1939, pg. 5.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Che-Ga-Quat-Ka, Whitesboro High School Yearbook, 1940, Whitesboro, NY.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56116407/ernest_geddes-broughton: accessed May 13, 2026), memorial page for PFC Ernest Geddes Broughton (24 Oct 1920–17 Jun 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56116407, citing Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA; Maintained by MAJ Jimmy Cotton (contributor 48803557).

Fold3, US, Marine Corps Casualty Indexes, 1940–1958 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/977/us-marine-corps-casualty-indexes-19401958 : accessed May 13, 2026), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/977/us-marine-corps-casualty-indexes-19401958

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Ernest Broughton (428559), National Archives, St. Louis, MO, 63138, NAID:330619462;Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the quartermaster General; Series: Individual Deceased Personnel Files.

"Memorial Service Friday to Open Welcome Home Fete", Rome Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, July 15, 1946, pg. 9.

Mom's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216995067/mary_s-broughton: accessed May 13, 2026), memorial page for Mary S. Geddes Broughton (22 Feb 1886–6 Jul 1978), Find a Grave Memorial ID 216995067, citing Crown Hill Memorial Park, Clinton, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Kathryn Hill (contributor 47225156).

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 05; Assembly District: 02; City: Whitestown; County: Oneida; Page: 15

"Oneida County's 4-H Youths at State Fair", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, August 29, 1939, pg. 2.

"PFC. Broughton Killed on Saipan", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, July 6, 1944, pg. 6.

"Service Friday to Open Whitesboro's Homecoming", Utica Observer-Dispatch, July 14, 1946, pg. 3-A.

"USS Sumter – Report of Ops Period 6/15 – 24/44 Saipan Channel, Saipan IS, Marianas", National Archives, Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; Series: World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Histories;NAID: 78543289, National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001.

"Whitesboro Marine Killed on Saipan", Utica Daily Press, date and page illegible, accessed at Fultonhistory.com on May 13, 2026.

Year: 1940; Census Place: Whitesboro, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02702; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 33-105B

Supporting Documents