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Walter Kenneth M.

Name:
Kenneth M. Walter
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
12009097
Unit:
16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Death:
1944-10-03
State:
New Jersey
Cemetery:
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium
Plot:
E
Row:
12
Grave:
62
Decoration:
Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Comments:

Kenneth M. Walter was born on August 22, 1920 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. attended Roseville Presbyterian Church in Newark, graduated from Sussex Avenue Boys' Vocational High School, also in Newark and worked at the White Tower hamburger restaurant in Hackensack after graduation.

He joined the service October 8, 1940 at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, trained at Fort Devans, Mass. and took amphibious operations training at Edgewood Arsenal, Md. and in Puerto Rico. Then, as a member of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, he sailed on the Queen Mary for England in the first week of August 1942. The next 26 months would mostly be spent in front line combat.

He participated in the invasion of North Africa where he earned a Purple Heart for wounds received. In April 16, 1943, he landed in Sicily where they fought until August, returning to Liverpool in October for seven months training in preparation for the invasion of Europe. It was at this time that he married Eileen Bourke from Dublin on March 21, 1944.

On D-Day, he landed on Omaha Beach at 7:05 and was immediately pinned down but succeeded in fighting on to Hameau by late afternoon. As a Private, he was awarded the Bronze Star (posthumously) "for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in Normandy, France 6 June, 1944." By mid-August they were south of Paris and by mid-September they had breached the Sigfried Line on their way to Aachen. He had now been promoted to Sergeant.

Walter died after being hit by shrapnel in the head during a bombardment near Buschmuh. It was during this action that he was awarded the Silver Star "for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Stollberg, Germany, October 3, 1944. When his squad was captured during a fierce engagement with the enemy, Sgt. Walter made a daring break from his captors and despite coverless terrain and intense hostile fire, fearlessly attempted to reach his command and furnish them with important information. In the performance of his gallant deed, Sgt. Walter was mortally wounded."

Source of information: www.findagrave.com