When Walter E. Kepner was born in 1924 in Alabama, New York, his father, Edward, was 39 and his mother, Olive, was 24. He had two brothers and eight sisters. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Private in the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He entered service in New York. He died on August 28, 1944 during the invasion of southern France. He is now buried at Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, Draguignan, Departement du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.