World War II Honoree

Walter W. Ebersole

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bayard (Guthrie County, Iowa), Iowa

Honored By

Self

ENLISTED AND SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AT CAMP DODGE, IOWA SEPTEMBER 9, 1942, ENTERING ACTIVE DUTY SEPTEMBER 16, 1942. FIRST BASIC TRAINI NG AT CAMP HARAHAN IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, 728TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. JOINED THE 721ST OPERATING BATTALION AND TRANSFERRED TO SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS AND TOOK BASIC TRAINING A SECOND TIME. HAD A HERNIA OPERATION. DURING HOSPITAL STAY 721ST WAS TRANSFERRED OVERSEAS, AND HE WAS SENT TO CAMP HARAHAN AT NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA WHERE HE ENTERED THE 724TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. UNIT WAS SENT TO CAMP SHELBY AT HATTISBURG, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HE WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING A THIRD TIME. UNIT LEFT FOR EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATION AUGUST 11, 1944, ARRIVING AUGUST 25, 1944. UNIT SET UP OUTSIDE OF PARIS, FRANCE WHERE THEY LIVED IN RR BOXCARS AND WORKED IN AND OUT WHERE NEED TO REPAIR AND REPLACE RAILWAY BRIDGES AS A BRIDGE BUILDERS. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF NORTHERN FRANCE AND ARDENNES. RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES DECEMBER 7, 1945 ARRIVING DECEMBER 16, 1945. REEEIVED 2 OVERSEAS BARS, 1 SERVICE STRIPE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE RIBBON W/ 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. DISCHARGED AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS SEPARATION CENTER DECEMBER 20, 1945 AFTER SERVING 3 YEARS AND 5 DAYS SERVICE OF WHICH 1 YEAR 4 MONTHS AND 6 DAYS WERE OVERESEAS DUTY.