World War II Honoree

Thomas James Walbert

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cumberland, Maryland

Honored By

Timothy Walbert

Relationship

Son

D-DAY, FRANCE, BELGIUM, GERMANY, HUERTGEN FOREST. HE WAS A SCOUT. SERVED IN THE 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION BUT WAS PULLED INTO THE 2ND RANGERS 2 DAYS BEFORE D-DAY TO FILL IN FOR THOSE INJURED IN TRAINING. HE HAD COMMANDO TRAINING IN ENGLAND SOMETIME DURING 1943-1944. HE WAS AT POINT DU HOE. HE WAS INJURED IN A FALL FROM THE CLIFFS. RECOVERED IN ENGLAND TILL AUGUST OF 44. WENT BACK IN THE LINE. HE WAS SHOT ONCE IN THE LEG, BACK AND FINGER ON THE LEFT HAND. AT THE BATTLE OF THE HUERTGEN FOREST HE HAD HIS LIVER TORN BY THE CONCUSSION BLAST OF AN ARTILLERY OR MORTAR ROUND. HE SAYS HE WOKE UP IN A CATHEDRAL IN LIEGE, BELGIUM. FINALLY ARRIVING IN NEW YORK ON THE QUEEN MARY IN JANUARY OF 1945 AND CONTINUED RECUPERATING IN THE U.S. HIS RANK AT THE TIME IN EUROPE WAS PRIVATE, THEN CORPORAL. HE RETIRED AS A MASTER SERGEANT.