Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company F, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division "Trailblazers", U.S. Army (Company F, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division "Trailblazers", U.S. Army)

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1945

Citation:
"For heroic achievement in action on 13 January 1945, near Rothbach, France. When an enemy night counterattack, supported by intense machine gun fire, drove to within ten feet of Staff Sergeant Walter and his companion, three hand granades dropped into their foxhole. The first was thrown from the foxhole by his comrade. When the second one dropped in, Staff Sergeant Walter jumped on it in an attempt to take the full force of the explosion and save his fellow soldier from injury. Though the missile did not explode, the third granade seriously wounded the other man and Staff Sergeant Walter gave him first aid, and then continued to resist the enemy attack. His courageous action substantially aided his company in breaking the counterattack. In a later action, Staff Sergeant Walter was killed by enemy mortar fire."

At the time of the action, he still held the rank of Private First Class, but upon being awarded he was alreadt promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Awarded posthumously.
General Order No. 53, Headquarters 70th Infantry Division, 2 July 1945.
Second Bronze Star Medal received in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first Bronze Star Medal.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)