World War II Honoree

Walter Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Murdo, South Dakota

Honored By

Craig Hullinger

Relationship

Great Nephew

COMPANY G, 184TH INFANTRY, APO 7. POSTMASTER OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; FEBRUARY 20, 1944, DEAR MR. & MRS. P. ANDERSON: WORDS ARE INADEQUATE IN TRYING TO EXPRESS THE FEELINGS OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THIS ORGANIZATION OVER THE DEATH OF YOUR SON, WALTER ANDERSON. EARLY IN THIS TRAINING PHASE WALTER WAS SINGLED OUT AS AN OUTSTANDING NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, AND WAS ASSIGNED THE DUTIES OF PLATOON SERGEANT OVER NUMEROUS SENIOR SERGEANTS. SUCH AN ASSIGNMENT MEANT THAT WALTER WAS SECOND IN COMMAND OF THIRTY-EIGHT MEN. WHILE SERVING IN SUCH A CAPACITY THE MEN IN HIS PLATOON SOON REALIZED AND APPRECIATED HIS FINE QUALITIES, NAMELY FAIRNESS, COOLNESS, AND A GREAT DEAL OF COMMON SENSE. DURING THE OPERATION STAFF SERGEANT ANDERSON BECAME PLATOON COMMANDER, AGAIN IN WHICH CAPACITY HE SKILLFULLY LED HIS MEN. FOR ABOVE ACTION I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT STAFF SERGEANT ANDERSON BE AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR. WALTER WAS STRUCK BY RIFLE FIRE AND DIED SHORTLY AFTERWARD.