John Sefton takes Honor Flight trip

When it was learned that World War II veteran John C. Sefton was honored as a participant of the Central Illinois Honor Flight to Washington D.C., on Oct. 14, a request was made to him for a report of the event.

John modestly, but graciously, agreed to meet in his home in Sefton, which is just across the road from where he was born 85 years ago. John grew up in a two-story house that no longer stands.

When asked what most impressed him about the Honor Flight, he immediately said, “the Memorial.” That part of the journey obviously left him very emotional, seemingly and understandably, beset with memories

His daughter, Lynn Ferguson, and his eldest son, David, joined us at John’s kitchen table, contributing photos and memories. Dave, who accompanied him on the Honor Flight, supplied information about the memorable journey.

Meet John Sefton, who joined the Army at the age of 18. Although he modestly said he saw “a little, not a lot, of action,” his service records and documents prove differently.

Corp. John Sefton

When Sefton joined the Army, at the age of 18, he was sent to Fort Knox, Ky., for his basic training and then to Ft. Campbell, Ky., for more training.

He was a gunner on an M-24 tank.

“I went to France, Germany and ended up in Yugoslavia, in the Alps,” he said. “We waited around for two weeks waiting for old Tito to give up or fight.”

He received an honorable discharge on April 20, 1946, and received the following honors: American Theatre Ribbon, Bronze Battle Star, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, Bronze Battle Star, and European African Middle Eastern and Overseas Service Bar.

The memories John shared were on the lighter side.

“I was a corporal part-time, when I wasn’t on K.P. (kitchen patrol),” he said with a grin.

“Another guy and I got in trouble, so they got me a toothbrush and some paint. I painted the steps of the barracks, and he had to stand there and guard me.”

At Home in Sefton

Growing up in rural Sefton, and living there all his life, John began working as a farmer. He and his late wife, Mary Ann Sefton, raised seven children: Lynn, David, Phil, Matt, Susie, Steve and Mike.

John then started getting into the construction business.

“Kenny Sefton and I began together, then dissolved our partnership in about a year and both went our merry ways,” he said.

The heavy equipment business grew into a family affair, and at one point in time, all of his sons worked in it. “Sometime or another, they were all involved in it,” he said. “They all learned how, anyway. Dave was so young when I took him that he rode on the toolbox.

“We went all over Fayette County. We have dug a lot of ponds, and I did a lot of work for the Natural Gas Plant station, north of St. Elmo.”

Dave added, “We pulled rigs in when they were working over the old oil wells, turning them into gas storage wells. We helped build the locations and pulled the drill rigs in, then the cement trucks, filled pits, etc. That was the bulk of where we worked for several years. Once in a while, we would pull off and do a landowner’s project, but most of the work was concentrated up there, that and Exxon at the time.

“I dropped out of farming,” John said. “I never could make it (farming) work, because I didn’t have enough money to buy the equipment.” It proved to be a wise choice, because the family business is still thriving.

“I still go to the Natural Gas at Post quite often, about every day,“ John said. He is also a frequent coffee drinker with some of the guys at the Victory Lane in Brownstown.

The Seftons have also hauled a lot of rock, and their work has included rocking the road for the Wren Bridge location of the spring and the large cross and memorial.

Paul Sarver, overseer of the area, not that John would not accept payment for the rock. Mary Ann’s name is on the memorial.

John dismissed the generous donation of rock and labor. “That’s part of life,” he said.

Leisure Time

John said that he never cared for fishing, but he enjoyed playing ball on the Sefton baseball team years ago.

The Honor Flight

David accompanied his father on the flight as guardian, and shared the highlights of his father’s long-overdue and highly deserved recognition by the country for which he served and sacrificed.

“The whole trip was very impressive,” Dave said. “Anyone who gets the chance to go ought to go. I especially encourage the veterans to go.

“Even if they have health problems, they can make the trip. They have nurses, oxygen, wheel chairs, on board ­– whatever they would need.”

Dave said that the long day of Wednesday, Oct. 14, began when the John Sefton household alarms awoke John and his daughter at 1 a.m. They loaded up in Lynn’s van and headed out, stopping to pick up Dave and heading for Effingham.

John was provided with an orange Honor Flight T-shirt, a cap depicting his service in World War II and branch of service, ID tags and a small backpack. Dave, as guardian, was given a blue polo shirt and a nametag.

By 3 a.m., they headed west on a coach bus, escorted by state police officers with lights flashing. They stopped at Greenville and Edwardsville to pick up more veterans, and headede at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, complete with escort.

This was John Sefton’s first plane flight. Congressman John Shimkus shared their flight from St. Louis to Washington, D.C.

On their arrival, the veterans were greeted with a standing ovation, continuous cheering and applause, hand-shaking and a thank you to each and every veteran, a very emotional time. Among the greeters at Ronald Reagan International Airport was Owen Beirne of Merrill Lynch.

Buses were awaiting the veterans to take them to the World War II Memorial. Their first stop was the Washington Monument. Sitting on park benches, they ate box lunches provided for them.

Following the arrival of a second bus of veterans, all Honor Flight participants gathered for a group photo in the front of the memorial. They had an hour and 45 minutes to visit the 7.4-acre Memorial, during which Robert and Elizabeth Dole made an appearance to greet and talk with the veterans.

The Memorial has 24 bas relief panels depicting scenes from both the Atlantic Front and the Pacific Front. Panels also depict pivotal stages in the war and on the homefront. A wall of 4,000 stars at the western end commemorates every 100 Americans who died in WW II.

There are other beautifully detailed representations and symbols of WW II war efforts. Pillars are joined by a bronze sculptured rope, symbolizing the bonding of a nation.

While the WW II Memorial was the most touching and impressive to John Sefton, they also viewed other memorable sites, including Arlington Cemetery, whee they watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

On the return trip, as they neared Effingham and exit I-70, their bus was met by the Illinois State Police and local fire department, with lights flashing to signal that the WW II heroes were back in town.

A color guard was awaiting them, along with loved ones and those who simply wanted the veterans to know they were appreciated.

Dave Sefton said, “It was a wonderful trip that I would challenge any veteran to take. The Honor Flight organization is very efficient, helpful and willing to meet and exceed the needs of our precious World War II veterans to enable them to see their Memorial.”

The day of the Honor Flight stretched from 1 a.m. on Wednesday to 1 a.m. on Thursday.

The proper welcome home to the WW II heroes is over, 60 years late in coming, but it’s never too late, nor can “thank you” be said too often to John and the many American men and women who served in WW II and made possible the life and freedoms we enjoy in America today.