Morton Lackey Talley Jr. was born in 1912  to Morton L. and Elizabeth Talley, who lived on a farm on Shiloh Road just outside of West Chester, Pennsylvania.  He was the oldest of three children: Morton L. Jr., Marjorie E. and Frank S.  His father was originally from Delaware, and worked as a manger of the farm.

 Morton attended the West Chester High School, which was then located on the northeast corner of Church and Washington Streets.

 Morton was in the Dramatic Club,  History Club, Class Lieutenant his Junior and Senior years, the Football Squad, Class Basketball, and Track Squad.  The class yearbook says of him:

 “Mort” or “Talley” as he is known by his friends is a great booster of our High School.  Being athletically inclined he has helped dear old W. C.H. S. win many victories.  “Mort” is also very good in the dramatic line, especially when he is taking part as a general.

 While attending school, Morton worked as a sales clerk at DeHaven’s Drug Store. (There were two DeHaven’s in West Chester: the NW corner of High and Dean Streets, and on the 100 block of West Gay St.) He graduated in 1929.

 Morton obtained employment at the Downingtown Manufacturing Company on Washington Ave and Green St. in Downingtown, which made paper mill machinery.

He also joined the West Chester Rifle and Pistol Club, and became a member of their crack 10 men Rifle Team.  The Rifle team entered competitions using 22 caliber rifles.  Morton was known as a crack shot.

 Edwin Travis who was also on the Rifle Team, remembers Morton as quiet and dignified; and one whom you could always rely on.

 Morton married Elise Montgomery and moved to the Lafayette Apartments, 21 Evans St. in West Chester.

 Morton joined the Pennsylvania National Guard, Company I, 111^th Infantry, and “West Chester Own” in 1930.  The Company was activated for Active Military Duty in 1940. He trained at various camps in the states; he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Virginia in October 1943 where he wrote his will. Morton advanced in rank from private to Commissioned Officer.  He was promoted to First Lieutenant when the Company left West Chester in February 1941. Morton was promoted to Captain later, then Major in February 1942.  He was home on furlough in August and October 1943.

He was shipped overseas to the Pacific Theater of operations in December 1943.  His wife received a letter in July informing her he was in the Hawaiian Island area.  He was later sent to the Florida Island in the Solomon Island group (Florida Island is very close to Tulagi - just north of Guadalcanal, and where Hero George Johnson died on August 7, 1942.)

 Major Morton Lackey Talley Died Non Battle in an aircraft crash on July 26, 1944 in the Solomon Islands.

 His wife, Elsie was alone with her son when she received the telegram from the War Department on August 8^th.  She carried the sad news to his parents on the farm.

 Morton was buried in a local Military Cemetery with full honors.  He was disinterred to be brought back for burial in his home country in 1948.  Lieutenant Colonel Arthur J. Jennings of the U. S. Army Quartermaster Center in Philadelphia, accompanied the body as guard of honor. Funeral services were held at the Hicks Funeral Home at 229 South High St. on March 3, 1948.

 A military service was conducted by representatives of Company I, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Society of the 28^th Division. Interment was at the Birmingham Cemetery, south of town on Birmingham Road.  A guard of Honor lined the pathway for the flag draped coffin. The religious Service was conducted by Reverend C. Russel Wilkins, pastor of the Goshen Baptist Church, and Chaplain Tom O. Miller of the American Legion.  A salute was fired by a squad comprised of members of Company I under First Sergeant Henry A. Tukloff, a friend of Morton.  Don Ivins Himes sounded Taps.

Morton was the first World War II casualty from Company I, and the first Army commissioned officer from West Chester to die in the war.