World War II Honoree

Sterling Relyea Walter

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Hollywood, California

Honored By

John Peterson

JOINED THE MARINES AS A PRIVATE. WHILE AT PARRIS ISLAND HE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. AFTER GRADUATION, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO SERVICE AS AN UNDERCOVER AGENT WITH WILLIAM J. DONOVAN'S COORDINATOR OF INFORMATION (COI) OFFICE. HE REMAINED THERE AFTER IT BECAME THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES. AS AN OSS AGENT, HIS WWII SERVICE INCLUDED SAILING WITH SUPPLIES FROM ITALY TO YUGOSLAV PARTISANS AND PARACHUTING INTO FASCIST CROATIA. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN AND ESTABLISHED AIR CREW RESCUE TEAMS IN ENEMY-OCCUPIED TERRITORY. HE BECAME A FIRST LIEUTENANT ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1944, AND A CAPTAIN ON FEBRUARY 14, 1945. HE RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR (FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION IN THE BALKANS AND MEDITERRANEAN, A BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE FOR PARACHUTING BEHIND ENEMY LINES, AND A COMMENDATION FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S MARSHAL TITO. HE LEFT ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 24, 1945.