Presented by Linda Fluharty.
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
BIOGRAPHY BY LINDA FLUHARTY
LESTER DELNO DURBIN - Gunnery Sergeant 6th US Marine Corps 2nd Division. The Marine signed his name as LESTER DELNO DURBIN on his 1917 WWI Draft Registration, despite the spelling as DELINO on his tombstone. - He stated he was born on December 8, 1888 at Rock Lick, Pennsylvania, but Rock Lick is actually in Marshall County, West Virginia, close to the border of the two states. At the time he enlisted, Delno was residing in Cameron and was employed as a "Tool Presser Oil Field." He indicated he had served 4 years in the Marine Corps. He re-enlisted to serve in World War I, and he was Killed in Action on July 19, 1918 in France. He was the son of Andy Durbin and Mary Elizabeth Cooper. His sister, Blanche Viola Durbin, a Registered Nurse, served in the U. S. Army Nurse Corps during the war. Both are interred at Arlington National Cemetery. - An American Legion Post in Cameron was named the "Delno Durbin Post."
"Moundsville Weekly Echo" - 9 Aug 1918
DELNO DURBIN - CAMERON BOY DIES FIGHTING FOR COUNTRY --- Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Durbin of Cameron received word this morning that their son Delno Durbin was killed in action July 19. - Durbin was about 26 years of age and was a member of the regular army, having enlisted soon after the out break of the war. - He has a brother Walter in the army, sisters Miss Blanche, Mrs. Vance Gosney and a sister, married, in Oklahoma."Moundsville Weekly Echo" - 10 Mar 1922
DURBIN SERVICES HELD --- Washington, March 4.--Senator Howard Sutherland and Congressman Benjamin L. Rosenbloom spoke last night and an impromptu memorial tribute to the late Sergeant Delno Durbin, of Cameron, W.Va., whose life was lost in the World War and who was interred in Arlington national cemetery last Thursday. Others who spoke were Dr. W. S. Fulton and Dr. Randolph Hersey, of Wheeling; Archie N. Cook, and Thomas S. Wilson of Cameron. Others present included Marshal Louis Buchwald of Wheeling; --- Lazerus, Charles Cook, Ray Joliffe, Cyril McCormick, Vere Todd, Howard Buzzard, Harry Wendt, W. L. Burton, Luke Ross, of Cameron, and Alfred C. Paull, Wheeling, Secretary to Congressman Rosenbloom. Those from Cameron came as a committee sent by the people of Cameron to attend the funeral services, and they were guests last night of Congressman Rosenbloom at dinner, where memorial speeches were made."The Wheeling Intelligencer" - 17 Aug 1918
Memorial services were held at the Christian church Monday evening in honor of Delno Durbin, the Cameron boy whose death occurred in France a few days ago. The services were most impressive, and were attended by the veterans of the Civil war and Odd Fellows lodge. Rev. W. E. Pierce had charge of the services and paid a glowing tribute of respect to the memory of a brave boy who gave his life for his country. He was a model young man and besides being an Odd Fellow, was a memebr of the Christian church. The large auditorium would not hold the people."The Wheeling Intelligencer" - 5 Oct 1918
Miss Blanche Durbin left Tuesday evening for Camp Sevier, S. C. where she will spend three months training as a Red Cross army nurse. It will be remembered that one of her brothers, Delno Durbin, was killed in France but a short time ago."The Wheeling Intelligencer" - 4 Mar 1922
The body of Private [Sergeant] Lester Delno Durbin, a soldier [marine] boy from Cameron, W.Va. who met death in battle in France, was interred at Arlington Thursday with full military honors. The following named friends of the deceased were there to attend the funeral service: L. R. Lazarus, of Belington; Howard Buzzard, Luke Ross and Charles Cook, of Cameron.