World War II Honoree

Jack 'Pack Rat' Walter

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pueblo, Colorado

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HIS BOAT ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON FEBRUARY 14, 1944. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE SUBMARINE USS PAMPANITO (SS-383). HIS SUB PARTICIPATED IN 6 WAR PATROLS, INCLUDING IN THE SOUTHWEST APPROACHES TO SAIPAN AND GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS; AT YAP IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS; OFF THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS; IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA; OFF FORMOSA AND THE COAST OF SOUTHEAST CHINA; AND IN THE GULF OF SIAM. TOOK PART IN INDEPENDENT AND 'WOLFPACK' PATROLS ATTACKING ENEMY SHIPPING. THE PAMPANITO SCORED 2 TORPEDO HITS AGAINST A JAPANESE DESTROYER; DAMAGED A GUNBOAT; AND SANK TRANSPORT, TANKER, CARGO AND PASSENGER-CARGO AND OTHER SHIPS. THE HULL OF HIS BOAT WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY DEPTH CHARGES IN ONE ENCOUNTER; AND WAS FIRED ON BY A JAPANESE SUBMARINE, WHOSE TORPEDOES NARROWLY MISSED, IN ANOTHER. ALSO PERFORMED 'LIFEGUARD' DUTY TO RESCUE DOWNED AIRCREWS AND HELPED RESCUE BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR THAT SURVIVED A JAPANESE PRISON SHIP SINKING. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.