World War II Honoree

Walter A. 'Dan' Guest, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Atlanta, Georgia

Honored By

Family friend

IN AUGUST 1940 ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND BRIEFLY ATTACHED TO 326TH INFANTRY, 94TH ANTI-TANK BATTALION AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND MADE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF COMPANY I, 13TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. RECEIVED ORDERS TO PHILIPPINES WHICH WERE CANCELED AFTER THE INVASION OF THOSE ISLANDS ONCE HE ARRIVED IN CALIFORNIA. COMMANDED COMPANY A, 125TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN GILROY, CALIFORNIA. ORDERED TO CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER IN NOVEMBER 1942 AS INFANTRY INSTRUCTOR WITH THE CHINESE TRAINING AND COMBAT COMMAND IN RAMGARH, INDIA. PREPARED SOLDIERS FOR NORTHERN INVASION OF JAPANESE-OCCUPIED BURMA. SERVED AS LIAISON OFFICER WITH CHINESE ARMY UNTIL JUNE 1944 WITH THE NORTHERN COMBAT AREA COMMAND OF BURMA. RETURNED TO THE STATES IN MAY 1945, AFTER PROMOTION TO MAJOR AND MADE REGIMENTAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING COMMAND AT CAMP WHEELER, GEORGIA. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN SEPTEMBER OF 1946 AS LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND RETIRED FROM ARMY RESERVE AS COLONEL IN 1962. EARNED BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.