World War II Honoree

Ernest Clay Walsh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Honored By

Elaine, Jeff & Mike Walsh

Relationship

Daughter & Sons

INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON JUNE 17, 1944 AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE HE RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING. HE WAS THEN SENT TO FORT CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS UNTIL SHIPPED TO EUROPE WITH THE SERVICE BATTERY, 33RD FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN SEPTEMBER, DOCKING IN LE HAVRE, FRANCE IN DECEMBER. AS PART OF PATTON'S 33RD FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, HIS BATTALION SERVED IN FRANCE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, AUSTRIA AND GERMANY, TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO THE FRONT. IN 1945 AT THE END OF WAR, THE 33RD BATTALION WAS PART OF THE CLEANUP DETAIL IN GERMANY, DESTROYING UNEXPLODED BOMBS AND AMMUNITION. THE COMPANY WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO NUREMBERG, WHERE THEY GUARDED WARTIME CRIMINALS. LATER THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE FRANKFORT, WHERE HE SERVED AS POSTAL CLERK. HE REMAINED IN GERMANY UNTIL RETURNING TO THE U.S. IN MAY 1946. HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON JUNE 4, 1946 AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA.