World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Walter J. Gunther, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A PARATROOPER, WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO D-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE JUMPED INTO THE AREA OF HIESVILLE, THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INITIAL ASSAULT DURING HIS REGIMENT’S OBJECTIVE TO CAPTURE THE CAUSEWAYS, EXITS 1 AND 2 AT POUPEVILLE AND HOUDIENVILLE, WHICH CONNECTED UTAH BEACH WITH THE SOLID GROUND OF NORMANDY. HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. THE LIEUTENANT WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.