Obituary

Wayne G. Austin, son of Mrs. Mary Austin of Burrton, Kansas, was born in Burrton July 17, 1897. He lived in Kansas all his life, the greater part in Burrton, until enlisting in the United States Marine, was trained at Port Royal barracks, South Carolina. He left for overseas service February 6, 1918. He was among the first to fight, being in the battle of Chatteau Thierry, and the Belleau Woods, being killed in action in the later fighting, on June 6, 1918. Private Austin was the first Harvey county boy to make the supreme sacrifice in action. He was buried in the American cemetery on the Alsne river, Torcy, France. He was a typical, fearless, upstanding young Kansan, with a high school education and with great promises for a useful career.

Article from Hutchinson News: Burrton, September 17, 1918:

The remains of Wayne G. Austin, the first Harvey county soldier to fall in action overseas in the late war will be laid at rest at a public military funeral at Burrton Sunday in the old city park.

The funeral will be under the direction of the Burrton and Newton Posts of the American Legion. The Newton post was named in his honor. Rev. D. C. Shields of Haven, former pastor of the Methodist church in Burrton will give the funeral oration.

The Halstead Post number 231 will be present in a body, also a detachment of Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Kansas City, will be present as a guard of honor.