Date of birth:

February 2nd, 1910 (Providence/Rhode Island, United States)

Date of death:

May 18th, 2000 (Easton/Maryland, Unnited States)

Nationality:

American

Quentin R. Walsh was born in Providence, Rhose Island on February 2nd, 1910. In the early ‘30s he worked as a whaler. After having graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1933, he served between Cuba and Nova Scotia patroling smuggler’s routes. In 1938 Walsh was stationed on the South Pole and in 1940 in Greenland.
At the outbreak of World War Two, Walsh had attained the rank of Lieutenant-commander. He served in the North-Atlantic aboard U.S.S. Campbell and U.S.S. Joseph Dickman. In september 1943 he was posted to the staff of the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. Here he trained the US Navy Task Unit 127.2.8. Aftyer the Normandy landings of June 6th, 1944, Walsh was engaged in drawing up plans for the attack on Cherbourg. He personally led a reconnaissance unit that took 300 German soldiers prisoner during the attack on the town and he released 52 US paratroopers from captivity.
At the end of the war, a disease that he contracted was the reason for his medical discharge. At the outbreak of the Korean War he was drafted again to serve in U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. In 1960, he was honorably discharged.
Until 1965, he taught at North Carolina High School. He passed away May 18th, 2000.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Commander

Unit:

Task Unit 127.2.8, Logistics and Planning Division, U.S. Navy (Task Unit 127.2.8, Logistics and Planning Division, U.S. Navy)

Awarded on:

May 1945

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of a specially trained U.S. Naval reconnaissance party at Cherbourg, France, on 26 and 27 June 1944. Lieutenant Commander Walsh enterd the port of Cherbourg with Army troops three weeks after D-Day of the Normandy Invasion, and penetrated the eastern half of the city. While leading his party through scattered pockets of resistance, he engaged in street fighting and accepted the surrender of 750 Germans, 400 at the naval arsenal and 350 at nearby Fort du Homet. He secured the release of 52 captured U.S. Army paratroopers who were being held prisoner in the fort. His aggressive leadership and outstanding heroism were instrumental in the surrender of the last inner fortress of the Cherbourg arsenal and considerably expedited its occupation and use by the Allied forces. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Walsh throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945).

• Photo 1: United States Coast Guard
• Photo: United States Coast Guard
  
• - Sterner C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
  - Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945)
  - Home of Heroes
  - Military Times Hall of Valor