Cpl. Donald L Westley, a native of Northwood, Blair County paid the ultimate price for his country during World War II.

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Donald was born on April 23, 1918, the second youngest of ten children, which included seven brothers and three sisters.  Five of the brothers served in World War II.

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In 1940, Westley enlisted with Troop B, 104th Calvary, Pennsylvania National Guard and trained at Fort Indiantown Gap.  His troop was called into service in February 1941.  Then, he also served at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Pendleton, Oregon; and Fort Ord, California.

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After basic training, Westley was sent to serve in the Aleutian Islands, off of Alaska, where he spent seven months fighting the Japanese.

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Then, he returned to Camp Maxey, Texas in December 1943.  After a brief furlough home, Westley received orders sending him to the European Theater of Operations, where he served in France, Luxembourg and Belgium.

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Cpl. Westley was injured in The Battle of the Bulge in Belgium on December 27, 1944 and succumbed to those injuries on December 30, 1944.

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According to Westley's nephew, also Don Westley, Cpl. Westley's older brother Oren Ambrose Westley (the younger Don's father) was stationed in the same area as his brother.

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Oren visited the Henri Chapelle American Military Cemetery in Henri Chapelle, Belgium and put flowers on the grave at the cross.  He took pictures and sent them home to his dad.  Westley was buried in that cemetery from 1944-47. Then in 1947, he was moved to Tyrone, where he laid in state at the EUB church.  The American Legion Honor Guard stood guard over him. After the services, he was then buried at the Eastlawn Cemetery.

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For his service, Cpl. Westley was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.....

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**To read the complete article, please check out the upcoming book release They Came From Blair County Volume 2 due out by the end of the year.

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**Information for this article was obtained through a phone interview with Don Westley

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**Photos were obtained from Don Westley